CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
Our first fall meeting will be held Wednesday, September 26, 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Aull Center, next to the Library at 351 Spruce Street. This public meeting will focus on the WV Constitutional Amendments to be decided in the November election. We have invited Robert Bastress (left), WVU Law Professor and Constitutional Law expert to explain the details, need, and repercussions of the amendments, and to respond to questions from our league and participants.
What does it mean to be a member of the League of Women Voters? First and foremost, it is to be informed – about local, state, and national issues! To that end, our local league devotes time and talent to organizing candidate forums and panels or discussions about topics of local interest. Our first fall Membership Meeting is an example. What do you know about the upcoming two Constitutional Amendments? Why were they proposed by the state legislature, and what will their impact be? Our guest speaker will help us unravel the issues. We expect all members to attend this important meeting and encourage other members of the public to come as well.
We value our first fall meeting not only for the content presented, but the opportunity to gather as a group to connect with one another. We look forward to seeing everyone!
About Constitutional Amendments
Amendment No. 1, the proposed “No Constitutional Right to Abortion Amendment,” is written as follows:
“Nothing in this Constitution secures or protects a right to abortion or requires the funding of an abortion.”
Amendment No. 2, the proposed “Judicial Budget Oversight Amendment,” would shift judicial spending oversight to lawmakers. Currently, the judiciary controls its own budget. The proposed amendment making the change includes the following language:
“Providing that the total general revenue appropriations to the judiciary may be reduced in the budget bill, and setting forth the required procedures to be followed by the Legislature to enact any decrease in the total general revenue appropriations to the judiciary to an amount that is less than 85 percent of the amount of the total general revenue appropriations to the judiciary in the most recently enacted budget; providing that when requested by the Legislature, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals must appear and be heard and answer inquiries relative to any budget bill; and conforming language relating to the introduction of the budget and matters that may be taken up during extended sessions to more recent amendments to the Constitution.”
State Board
At our State Board meeting in August, we became a partner organization of Vote No on 1 WV – http://votenoon1wv.org .
The League’s Public Policy on Reproductive Choices is on pages 32 – 35 of “Impacts on Issues”: https://www.lwvwv.org/library/lwvus/
Join with the Vote No on Amendment 1 coalition for a weekly phone bank and canvassing opportunities in Morgantown to defeat this dangerous amendment! Discover/register for events at:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/VoteNoOn1WV/events/?ref=page_internal
Candidate Forums
There will be two candidate forums in October, organized by our local LWV and Mountaineers for Progress (MFP). The first one will be for the House of Delegates candidates, District 51. It will be held on Thursday, October 11, at 7:00 p.m. at the South Middle School auditorium, 500 E. Parkway Drive. Candidates are: Republicans Cindy Frich, Aaron Metz, Roger Shuttlesworth, Joe Statler, and Debbie Warner; Democrats Barbara Evans Fleischauer, Evan Hansen, Rodney A. Pyles, Danielle Walker, and John Williams; Libertarian Buddy A. Guthrie; and American Freedom Union Harry V. Bertram.
The second forum will be for the County Commission candidates and the WV Senate candidates, Districts 13 and 14. It will be held Thursday, October 18, 7:00 p.m. at the South Middle School auditorium, 500 E. Parkway Drive. Candidates are: County Commission Republican Andrew W. Price, Democrat Tom Bloom. State Senator, 13th District, Republican Mike Oliverio, Democrat Bob Beach. State Senator, 14th District, Republican Dave Sypolt, Democrat Stephanie Zucker.
Refreshments will be provided at both events. This is always a great opportunity to see your candidates in person and learn about their views on a variety of issues. League members are asked to bring goodies for the forum on October 11.
Voters Service
Our League has responded to an initiative from the LWV Education Fund to register voters. An award winning, urban planning, development, and investment management firm Jonathan Rose Companies, has joined forces with the League to register and empower voters this year. Funding for these events will be provided as pass-through grants from the LWVEF. Members from our league will go to Wheeling on October 3. We will assist residents with voter registration, providing nonpartisan local voting information, and collecting completed voter registration applications to turn in to local elections officials. The grant will be $350 for this event – a big help for our budget!
Annual Meeting June 2018
The Annual Meeting 2018 was held at Ali Baba’s Restaurant on Saturday, June 9. After the noon Luncheon, three Democracy in Action Awards were presented. Catherine Lozier presented the award to Carye Blaney (in absentia), in recognition of her “many accomplishments as Monongalia County Clerk to make voting easily available, secure and up-to-date.” (Carye Blaney received the award in person at a County Commission meeting later in June.) Vicki Conner presented the award to Roark Sizemore, Founder/President of Pantry Plus More, for his “dedication to fighting child hunger in Monongalia County.” Lyndell Millecchia presented the award to Shirley Rosenbaum, LWV Membership Chair, in recognition of her “constant and continuing commitment to outreach and member participation in the League of Women Voters.” Shirley also was recognized as a life member, joining the League over 50 years ago.
After the award presentations, Vicki Conner introduced Bill Kawecki, Mayor of the City of Morgantown, who gave an overview of recent accomplishments of City Council.
During the Business Meeting, it was decided to reduce the student dues from $22 to $5 per year. The Budget and the Program for 2018-2019 were adopted.
Board Members elected for 2018-2020 are:
2nd VP Catherine Lozier
Treasurer Lyndell Millecchia
Director Pat Bunner
Director Penny Thomas
Director Nancy Ulrich
Director (unexpired term): Sarah Barnes
Nominating Committee: Barbara Brown, Marlene Frich, and Marilyn Weber
Continuing Board Members (elected in 2017) are: President, Vicki Conner; 1st VP, Nancy Jamison; Secretary, Barbara Brown; Director, Jonathan Rosenbaum; Director, Shirley Rosenbaum
League Membership
Membership in the League is open to all persons (both men and women) over the age of 16. When you become a member of the Morgantown League, you are also a member of the LWV-US and the LWV-WV. Currently dues are $48 for an individual, $72 for a household (two at the same address), and $5 for students. Checks should be made to LWV Morgantown-Mon County and mailed to: Lyndell Millecchia, Treasurer, 476 Lawnview Drive, Morgantown, WV 26505. You can also pay with your credit card at http://tinyurl.com/paylwvmm or you may send money from your PayPal account to mmtreasury@lwvwv.org .
Contributions are also welcomed and encouraged. (Membership dues and contributions to the League of Women Voters are not deductible as a personal or business expense for tax purposes.)
