LWV Action Issues

Campaign Finance --- For Sale: Money & Elections after Citizen's United

For Sale: Money & Elections after Citizens United

Tuesday, Jan. 24, at 7:30 p.m.

Ephraim Curtis Middle School, 22 Pratts Mill Rd., Sudbury

Two years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that corporations, unions and special interests are entitled to free-speech rights, a decision that has enabled those organizations to spend unlimited amounts of money to influence federal and state elections.

This year's election season is already seeing an unprecedented wave of campaign advertising, and with the proliferation of superPACS and 501 (c) organizations, major donors funding election advertising remain unidentified to the voters.

Jeff Clements

Jeff Clements, a Concord attorney and author of a new book, Corporations Are Not People, with a forward by Bill Moyers, will discuss the history of campaign finance reform, the impact of Citizens United, and ways people can work to change the influence of money on elections and legislation at a public forum Tuesday, Jan. 24, at 7:30 p.m.

The presentation, "For Sale: Money & Elections after Citizens United," is free and open to the public. It will be at the Ephraim Curtis Middle School, 22 Pratts Mill Rd., Sudbury.

The League of Women Voters of Sudbury is sponsoring the presentation.

Clements is a former assistant attorney general in Massachusetts and was chief of the public protection and advocacy bureau. He is currently in private practice in Concord. He is co-founder of Free Speech for People, a national, nonpartisan campaign challenging the creation of Constitutional rights for corporations. More information on his work is available at <http://www.corporationsarenotpeople.com>.

While the League supports campaign finance reform and filed an amicus brief in the Citizens United case, Clements' positions are his own, and not those of the LWV.

Domestic Violence

Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable. Meets monthly with police, clergy, interested professionals and community members.

"Digital Relationships + Teens, Technology and Trouble," will be held January 17 at the Goodnow Library. There will be two similar sessions, one at 10 a.m. and another at 7 p.m. These are appropriate for middle school and older students to attend, as well as adults.

If you are interested in the LWV DV Roundtable, call 978.779.2226, or 978.443.5752.

Environment

Bottle Bill Action Needed

The updated Bottle Bill(H1650/S1480) now has enough sponsors that it could pass the legislature and Gov. Patrick has promised to sign it, IF gets out of the Telecom,Utilities and Energy (TUE) committee.

Call your State Senator and State Representative and ask then to strongly urge Speaker DeLeo to release the bill from committee and schedule a vote.

Health Care

Our next Health care meeting Wed Jan 18 at 2:00 pm. You are welcome to come. Call Judy at 978.443.8609. the main item on the agenda will be deciding upon a speaker or speakers at our Dec 2, 2012 health care forum, "The Federal Health Care Law Now: What coverage When.

The LWV MA testified before the Joint Committee on Health Care Finance in favor of the Improved Medicare for All as well as Public Options Bills. The testimony explained that Medicare for All is the LWV's first choice for financing health care since it would provide quality quality health care for all Massachusetts residents at a tremendous savings to the Commonwealth, people and most businesses(about $9 billion annually). Although the LWV considered the Public Option bill second best, it would give MA residents the opportunity to choose a publicly run plan. Also, 24 towns that included "Improved Medicare for All as a ballot question voted overwhelmingly in favor.

See the November 2011 Sudbury LWV Health Care Forum at http://sudburytv.pegcentral.com/

Three advocates spoke for Massachusetts single-payer health care:
-Senator Jamie Eldridge on why he introduced the Improved Medicare for All bill into the Mass Legislature,
-U of Mass Amherst Profesor Gerald Friedman on how this bill's pasage will save more than $8 billion yearly, and
-Ben Day the executive director of MassCare on how we can work together to get the bill enacted.

Historic Preservation

The committee is active and meeting. Call Maryilyn at 978.443.5752 or email marilynawe@aol.com