The Manatee Voter Newsletter of the League of Women Voters of Manatee County January – April 2015 P.O. Box 545 Bradenton, FL 32406 www.lwvmanatee.org Tel: (941) 744-9692 The League of Women Voters, a non-partisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Happy New Year! We Had It Covered! Upcoming Events Mark your calendar now Given our strong commitment to voter education and participation, our League hit the ground running this election season to do everything we could to help educate voters and encourage a high turnout. Our volunteers have truly done an amazing job this election, including…. Voter Registration: This project was a tremendous success, not only in the numbers registered (over 500), but also the bonds we formed with the schools and other community organizations. We registered at every high school in the county to enlist new voters and showed a powerpoint as to why it was important to vote. We also registered at libraries, restaurants, and community fairs. Candidate Forums: We teamed up with the Bradenton Herald and METV in a series of timed debates for candidates for US, state, county and city elections. We also participated in debates in partnership with other groups such as the AMI Sun, covering the contests in our beach cities, and at the Manatee Fish & Game summit. Voter Guides: Our most important product is our Voter Guides, which present nonpartisan information on candidates and ballot initiatives. We distributed 6,000 state LWV general election guides (which contain the state candidates and constitutional amendments), and 8,000 (4,000 each) for the local primary and general elections, to public libraries, civic and community centers. These have been invaluable to the voters in making their decisions. We thank the Bradenton Herald, M&M Printing and Bealls for their support of our printed local guides. Amendment Talks: There were just three state constitutional amendments on the ballot this election, but they were controversial and confusing. We cleared Jan. 6—Tuesday, 2:00 pm. Board meeting at the Women’s Resource Center, 1926 Manatee Ave W. Jan. 12—Monday, 11:30 am. Hot Topic on PoliceMinority Relations. Bradenton Woman’s Club, 1705 Manatee Ave W. See p 3. Feb. 3—Tuesday, 2:00 pm. Board meeting at the Women’s Resource Center, 1926 Manatee Ave W Feb. 9—Monday, 11:30 pm. Hot Topic on Health Care Expansion. Bradenton Woman’s Club, 1705 Manatee Ave W. See p. 3 Feb. 28—Saturday, 10:00 am. Wagon Tour of Robinson Preserve. See p. 7. Mar. 3—Tuesday, 2:00 pm. Board meeting at the Women’s Resource Center, 1926 Manatee Ave W Mar. 9—Monday, 11:30 am. Hot Topic on Campaign Finance Reform. Bradenton Woman’s Club, 1705 Manatee Ave W. See p. 3. Mar. 21—Saturday, 11:30 am. Women of Achievement Luncheon, Palm Aire. See p. 2 Apr. 7—Tuesday, 2:00 pm. Board meeting at the Women’s Resource Center, 1926 Manatee Ave W. Apr. 25—Saturday, 11:00 am, LWV Manatee Annual Meeting. Bradenton Country Club. 1 the air by holding two Hot Topics, featuring pro and con speakers, and several talks at community organizations to explain what these amendments say and what they would change. Voter Information Center: To reach even more voters with our election information, we assembled all the nonpartisan information in one place—on our website. We included links to our guides, as well as links to METV and other nonpartisan sites with information on candidates and issues—a one-stop shopping center for voting information. It proved to be a big hit with the users and certainly extended our informational reach. Our website stats show 12,325 visits in October, and 11,806 in November. questionnaire on the back of the form, to garner your suggestions. Please include in your New Year’s resolutions—“to become more active in the League and help recruit new members.” The more members we have, the more we can do! Thanks again, and have a great New Year! Rosalie Shaffer LWV Manatee now on Facebook! You can now “like us” on Facebook! Members Ashley Brown and Amanda Horne created a page for us on this very important social media tool. We now join the ranks of other Leagues which are finding this a great way to connect with the public and share information, ideas, news and photos. Find it at: www.facebook.com/lwvmanatee, or click on the link to it on our website, www.lwvmanatee.org. Thanks so much, Ashley and Amanda! In the blizzard of political ads this election, we stood out as the main source of nonpartisan, unbiased information that the voters rely upon. Here’s one phone comment we received in November that sums it up well: ”Thank you for helping me. I don’t know what I would have done without your information.” From the President LWV Board Member named Woman of Achievement! All I can say is…Wow! What an election! This is where the rubber meets the road for any local League of Women Voters. This is where we count the most—when the voters depend on us so much for nonpartisan information about the candidates running for office and amendments to be on the ballot. See our Voter Services Report on pages 1 and 2 for more details. Speaking of Ashley, we are very proud that she has been named a Woman of Achievement by the Bradenton Branch of the American Association of University Women, for her work at the Women’s Resource Center and many other efforts for our community. She and four other local leaders will be honored at an AAUW luncheon to be held on Saturday, March 21 at the Palm Aire Country Club, 5601 Country Club Way, Sarasota at 11:30 am. The event will also be a fundraiser for the AAUW scholarship fund. Tickets $40. For more information and to make a reservation, email Nan Rankin, [email protected] We also saw the need after the election to introduce the newly elected (and re-elected) candidates to their constituents and to members of the other boards that they will be working with. Our Meet and Greet event held on November 20 at Soma Creekside Restaurant was a great success. One official thanked us after the event for providing the opportunity to have meaningful conversations. We thank our event partners: Bradenton Herald, Manatee Chamber of Commerce, Manatee Tiger Bay, and Soma Creekside Restaurant for their help and participation. We hope to do it again in November 2016. LWV Manatee Officers and Board Members President: Rosalie Shaffer, 729-9248 email: [email protected] Vice-President: Jane Plitt Secretary: Paula Roberts Treasurer: Valerie Fisher Health Committee: Sue Dickie Hospitality: Cindy Nelson Natural Resources: Paula Roberts Outreach: Ashley Brown Voter Services: Kay Levy, Anne McFarland Board member at large: Melissa Rhodes But mostly, I’d like to thank our volunteers who worked so hard during this election cycle, and you, our members for your support. We will be shifting gears somewhat in 2015, and focus more on issues, such as health care, voting rights, improving elections, and preparing for Election Year 2016. You can help. Please keep us strong by renewing your membership for 2015. This year we have included a 2 Don’t miss these Mark your calendar now For more information visit www.lwvmanatee.org LWV Manatee programs this spring on the big issues of the day Hot Topic programs are held at the Bradenton Woman’s Club, 1705 Manatee Ave. W., from 12 noon to 1:00 pm. Doors open at 11:30 am for a light lunch ($5 donation) and social time. Open to the public. Monday, January 12: Police and Minority Community Relations. Recent confrontations between police and minorities have resulted in the deaths of several young, unarmed African Americans. These acts have kindled outrage in communities and calls for justice, reform and better relations. How can Manatee County avoid the mistakes and tragedies happening elsewhere? Speakers: Susie Copeland, president of the Manatee NAACP, Bradenton Chief of Police Michael Radzilowski; and Palmetto Chief of Police Rick Wells. Monday, February 9: Expanding Health Care in Florida. The upcoming Florida Legislative session will provide a vital opportunity for the state to accept the $51 billion in federal funds to ensure the health care gap is closed and our lowest income workers have affordable access to health care, and also to help lower costs for businesses, hospitals, and our county. While legislators have balked at the Medicaid expansion in the past, there is a new private-sponsored initiative that could resolve the current roadblock. Speakers: Kevin DiLallo, CEO of Manatee Memorial Hospital; Jill Gass, director of We Care Manatee, which provides health services for those without insurance or Medicaid, and Jamie Harden, president of Creative Sign Designs, an affected business, who will explain the Healthy Florida initiative (see page 8 for more information about that proposal). Monday, March 9: Campaign Finance Reform. During the recent elections billions of dollars flowed from parties, wealthy individuals, committees, PACs and SuperPACs into campaign coffers. Our own voices were drowned out by a sea of political advertising in every form of media. What changes would work best to protect our democracy and help reverse some of the effects of the Citizens United court decision? Speakers: Rhana Bazzini, leader of this effort in our area, who recently walked from Sarasota to Tallahassee to underscore the need for reform. Additional speaker awaiting confirmation. Saturday, April 25: LWV Manatee Annual Meeting and Program. Our annual business meeting, luncheon and program. Enjoy a fine lunch at the Bradenton Country Club and a guest speaker on a topic of great interest to our organization. We are awaiting confirmation of the planned speaker, and will post that information soon. The BCC is located at 4646 Ninth Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34209. The business meeting will start at 11:00 and lunch at 11:45 am. Cost: $30. The public is invited to attend. More information and RSVP form will be posted and emailed soon. 3 New Members LWV of Florida reviews accomplishments and goals August – December 2014 Marlene Focht, Margery Schiller, Loretta Steiger, and Judith Tremaine. Top 5 Accomplishments of 2014 ♦ Passage of Amendment One, protecting Florida's water and wild lands - one of the most significant environmental victories in the country ♦ Defeat of Amendment Three, that would have allowed outgoing Governors to appoint future Justices ♦ Distribution of one million voter guides informing citizens on candidates and amendments ♦ Volunteers speaking to thousands of citizens as part of our Speaker Corps ♦ With League as lead plaintiff in Fair Districts lawsuits, the court declared Congressional maps unconstitutional requiring modifications. Also, courts upheld the League's assertion that sealed documents should be part of the public record signaling to legislators that they must uphold the law. Thank you for joining! Help us grow. Ask a friend to join our League The Book Mark Given the billions of $$ that made their way into campaign coffers this past election, a reading of these two recent books underscores the need for campaign finance reform. Big Money, by Kenneth Vogel, 2014 This book is a must-read for anyone concerned about the future of our democracy. The bulk of Big Money is devoted to providing the details of how big money operates since the Citizens United Supreme Court decision - both for Democrats and Republicans. In addition to buying legislative influence, independent groups (largely funded by mega-donors) spent more money ($2.5 billion) in 2012 than the parties themselves ($1.6 billion). One result is that parties are losing their ability to pick their candidates and set direction for those elected because politicians are now less reliant on their financial backing. The PACs, rather than the parties, are now determining candidate positions on issues and their decision making in office. Looking ahead, here is what we hope to accomplish in 2015 with YOUR HELP 1. Make Florida healthier: Ensure the Legislature TAKES the $51 billion in federal funds to ensure the health care gap is closed and our lowest income workers have affordable access to health care. 2. Ensure a well-planned implementation of Amendment One that both protects the Everglades and helps repair and protect our declining springs and rivers. 3. Passage of a law to allow electronic voter registration, already passed in 24 states, making registration more accessible, cost effective and accurate. 4. Prevent any further expansion of vouchers, draining our public schools of desperately needed funds, and creating a parallel school system with no accountability. 5. Stop the passage of laws that will make it easier for students and visitors to carry guns in our K-12 schools and universities. 6. Get a Floridians' for a Fair Democracy amendment on the ballot for 2016. (see p. 5 for more information) Extortion, by Peter Schweitzer, 2013 This is the flip side of big money buying influence. It is generally known that large contributions translate into Congressional “favors" in voting on bills. But what if, in reality, it's the other way around? What if it's the politician that has the corporation in their pockets, and it's the senator or congressman that tells that entity to donate to his campaign and how much to donate, to ensure that the corporation will remain in business and continue to profit. And what happens if the corporation does not cooperate? Why are votes on industrysensitive bills held right after campaign fundraisers? (This book is available at the Manatee County Public Library) Your help is CRITICAL if we are going to be able to look back next year and say "WE GOT IT DONE!" Thank you for all you've done and for all you may still be willing to help us get accomplished! Let us know if you would like to serve on any of our committees. Deirdre Macnab LWVF President (407) 415-4559 4 History of Women Suffrage makes for an Inspiring LWV Tour by Jane Plitt Vice President This fall I had the honor and privilege of leading the 2nd Florida League of Women Voters-sponsored Suffrage Tour of Upstate New York, assisted by Elizabeth Pines, Esq. a state board member. The tour, held October 22-26, shared the worlds of these suffrage leaders and also spotlighted activities that were currently being launched to keep the issues of equality alive. The group included men and women from Colorado, Virginia and throughout Florida, who were dazzled by the courage and pioneering efforts of Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Harriet Tubman, Fredrick Douglass, and many other far less well-known Suffragists. The group was treated to behind the scenes insights at the University of Rochester's Susan B Anthony Center and Rush Rhees Library, where original letters and artifacts are held, along with the Rochester Museum and Science Center's collection of Anthony's shawl, quilt, and letters, plus artifacts from pioneering entrepreneur Martha Matilda Harper. Of course, the group visited Susan B. Anthony's home and even toured the Mount Hope Cemetery where Anthony, Douglass and other movement leaders are buried. We then left Rochester to discover Auburn, NY, where Secretary of State (and almost President) William Seward resided with his social action-oriented wife Frances. Their mansion was a stop on the Underground Railroad and they subsidized the purchase of the nearby farm Harriet Tubman lived on after her 13 missions to the South to free over 70 slaves. What bravery on the part of both of these families! Seneca Falls is the home of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and location of the 1848 Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments, where brave men and women called for women to have the right to vote! We also visited the National Women's Hall of Fame. The Hall and the Women's Historical Park are currently undergoing plans for a major expansion. Stay tuned. Maybe we can help! Photo: Jane communes with statues of suffrage leaders Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony. Restoring the Right to Vote In most states convicted felons may vote after completion of their sentences. However, in Florida a past felony conviction can mean a permanent loss of the right to vote. Florida is one of just 11 states that continue to restrict voting rights even after a person has completed probation or other terms of a sentence. In Florida that loss of civil rights also takes away the right to hold public office, serve on a jury, and hold certain types of state job licenses. Only three other states have rules as strict as Florida’s. Florida used to have a simple path to restoration, but in 2011 the state ended the common practice of automatically restoring the voting rights for non-violent ex-felons who had served their time, and paid all fines and fees. Instead all individuals convicted of any felony now must apply for executive clemency after a five year waiting period. Since then, more than 50,000 people a year are being added to a list of other ex-felons who just want their rights back. But a person with a past felony conviction loses these civil rights permanently until and unless he or she is granted restoration of civil rights by the Board of Executive Clemency. The Board of Executive Clemency is comprised of the Governor, Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, and Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services. How many voters are affected? About 10 percent (1.5 million) of Floridians are barred from the voting booth by a past felony conviction. It hits hardest upon the minority populations—a shocking 23 percent of Florida’s African Americans are disenfranchised. In Florida, both serious crimes and less serious ones may take away voting rights for life. What remains less known is how broken the system for restoring voting rights has become. Due to the backlog, Individuals may wait as long as 13 years after completing their sentences to get a hearing on having their rights restored. Even then, they have less than a 1 percent chance of having their rights restored, according to the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. (continued on page 6) 5 (cont’d from p. 5) The League of Women Voters of Florida and the coalition group Floridians for a Fair Democracy, are currently circulating a petition for a 2016 ballot initiative to address this injustice. The Voting Restoration Amendment would allow Floridians who have served their felony sentences, but are not convicted of murder or sexual offenses, to have their voting rights back as soon as they complete their sentence, including parole or probation. Right now, you can go online and sign the petition to get the amendment on the 2016 ballot. Download the petition here: http://election.dos.state.fl.us/initiatives/fulltext/pdf/64388-1.pdf Let us know if you would like to help distribute these petitions. Email: [email protected] Ballot summary: This amendment restores the voting rights of Floridians with felony convictions after they complete all terms of their sentence including parole or probation. The amendment would not apply to those convicted of murder or sexual offenses, who would continue to be permanently barred from voting unless the Governor and Cabinet vote to restore their voting rights on a case by case basis. that the Florida Forever program called “highly endangered” because of intense growth pressures. The Florida Land and Water Amendment We should know soon enough the intentions of the Legislature. The Florida Senate has promised a "water policy overhaul" in 2015 and we can expect to see effects on natural resources. We'll want to be ready to contact state senators and representatives when legislation comes to the floor, either to support or oppose. --It’s up to the Legislature now The Florida League of Women Voters and all of its local leagues actively supported Amendment 1 on the November ballot. We celebrated when it passed with a 75% approval of the voters—a strong statement of public support. However, the battle to preserve and protect Florida’s critical resources is not over. It’s not enough to get an amendment onto the Constitution. The League and all of its partner organizations worked too hard for Amendment 1, and Florida's land and water are too fragile for us to rest now. Want to help? The LWVM Natural Resources Committee needs more volunteers so that we can cover more issues. Please email me if you are interested. Now that Amendment 1 has passed, one-third of the state document tax income derived from the sales of real estate must be used specifically for Florida’s land and water conservation. That's good. However, over the last several years, the state Legislature had been raiding the existing doc stamp funding for Florida Forever, using it instead for other programs or to make up for tax cuts, and leaving just a fraction of the former funding for natural resources. It's not clear how the legislature will proceed at this point with the implementing legislation. Will they follow the intention of the amendment and the will of the voters? Paula Roberts Natural Resource Committee Chair [email protected] Manatee Tiger Bay appointment There is concern that existing environmental programs— not land acquisitions—could be transferred into Florida Forever as legitimate land or water improvements. Programs could meet the criteria, but not necessarily the intention of the law. While it's unlikely that acquisitions would be as poorly funded as in the last few years, it could mean that the dreams of restoring the fund to its previous strength would be undermined, and the quality of Florida’s water, wildlife, fisheries, and tourism economy decline as our state grows. Another honor for our LWV is the recent appointment of our President Rosalie Shaffer to the Board of Directors of Manatee Tiger Bay. Manatee Tiger Bay Club is a non-partisan organization formed to present exciting, stimulating and thought provoking programs. Topics range from, but not limited to political, social, local, state or national issues. They have luncheon meetings every month at the Pier 22 Restaurant. For more information, visit: www.manateetigerbay.org. One of the planned acquisitions in Manatee County that could be affected is Terra Ceia, a high-priority conservation land on the southeast shore of Tampa Bay 6 Would you like to serve? At our annual meeting and election in April we will elect officers and board members for two year terms. Our Nominations Committee is gearing up to recruit members who are dedicated and wish to help with the work of our League. This year’s committee: Jo Williams, Chair, Marie Hausman, Marjorie Roberts, and two Board members to be appointed. Please contact Jo if you would like to serve on our board: 795-5801, [email protected] League of Women Voters of Florida 2015 events All members are encouraged to attend these events. They are a great way to get training and information, and to meet members of other Leagues. Legislative Summit, March 10-12, DoubleTree Hotel, Tallahassee Essentially our "lobby days," LWVF's annual Capitol Impact Days brings members from all over the state to Tallahassee to advocate on our issues before state leaders, ensuring that a strong and united League voice is heard. This two-day conference during legislative session includes an orientation program, seminars and trainings on understanding League positions and advocating with civility, briefings with legislative leaders in the Cabinet room of the Florida Capitol, lobbying legislators in person, members-only formal luncheons and dinners, and exciting fundraising galas with Florida leaders. For more information and to register, visit: www.thefloridavoter.org/events/legislative-summit Convention, May 15-16, Hyatt Place Hotel, Delray Beach All members are invited to LWVF's upcoming Convention! Join your fellow Leaguers to commemorate LWVF State President Deirdre Macnab as she reaches the end of her term! This event will bring members from all across the state together for two days of exciting activities, including an oceanside gala, an evening of live music and more! Participants will also learn about the League's issues via caucuses and educational workshops, and will help shape LWVF's 2015-2017 Program during Plenary sessions at the historic Old School Square Crest Theater. For more information and to register, go to www.thefloridavoter.org/events/convention-council Many thanks to our vice president Jane Plitt for representing us at both the national and state LWV conventions in 2014! ∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗ LWV Wagon Tour of Robinson Preserve Given the huge success of our holiday river cruise in December, we will offer another guided group tour of one of our other natural gems, Robinson Preserve. We will roll through the preserve in a covered wagon while our tour guide explains the preserve’s history, resident wildlife, fabulous flowers, and preserve highlights. This 487-acre preserve has undergone an incredible transformation from disturbed farmland to coastal and wetland habitats. Robinson Preserve also features numerous recreational opportunities for the community, including hiking and biking trails and a canoe/kayak launch. Additional amenities include observation towers and platforms, picnic areas, and a visitor center. When: Saturday, February 28, from 10 to 11:00 am. Please arrive by 9:45 Where: Robinson Preserve is located in northwestern Bradenton, across the street from the Palma Sola Botanical Gardens. Address: 1704 99th St NW, Bradenton. Take SR 64 (Manatee Avenue) west. Turn north on 75th St West and drive to 17th Ave NW. Turn left and continue to the end of the street. Cost: $5 per passenger. Space is limited, so RSVP soon to : 729-9248 or [email protected] 7 Join the League! See: www.lwvmanatee.org Are You Ready to Vote? Be sure your registration is up to date. See: www.bereadytovote.org The League of Women Voters, a non-partisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. The Healthy Florida Works Initiative (from: http://ahealthyfloridaworks.com/our-plan/ Overview: A Healthy Florida Works, a bipartisan coalition of business leaders, chambers of commerce, statewide business organizations and concerned individuals, has developed a framework for using available federal funds to extend health care coverage to more Floridians. A Healthy Florida Works Plan is a fiscally responsible approach that brings Florida dollars sent to Washington, D.C., back to Florida. How does it work? Similar to private option plans adopted in other states, A Healthy Florida Works Plan is based on free market principles where private insurance providers elect to participate and consumers have choices. Individuals and families will choose a health plan through a state private operated online health insurance marketplace. To be eligible, participants must meet certain annual income levels, pay nominal premiums and participate in job and education training activities. Premiums paid by enrollees are reinvested into accounts that can be used for additional health services or education. Participating private providers will be paid on a per member, per month basis. Who is covered? In the first year, approximately 800,000 more Floridians will receive health care coverage and it is anticipated that approximately one million people will receive benefits over time. These are uninsured people who earn on average less than $16,000 per year (less than $32,900 for a family of four) and are not eligible for coverage through the current Medicaid program: young people age 19 and 20, parents, disabled seniors and individuals, childless adults, ages 21 – 64. Participants will receive essential benefits, including: preventative care, obstetrical care, inpatient stays, outpatient care, lab tests, prescription drugs, emergency room visits, rehabilitation services and mental health/substance abuse services. How is it funded? Funding for A Healthy Florida Works Plan is already available. More than $50 billion in federal funding is being paid through taxes on health insurers, taxes on durable medical equipment and reductions in payments to hospitals to cover the cost of care provided to seniors and the uninsured. It is also estimated that this plan will help Florida save state dollars by eliminating the Medically Needy Program. 8
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