The good news is that the name of the League is pure gold. It is
synonymous with being objective, fair, impartial and reliable. In short we are
trusted. If we could "sell" our reputation we'd be one of the highest profile
organizations in the District. Almost weekly we are approached to join another coalition
from health care and court excellence to school board reform and budget autonomy.
The bad news is that our membership is declining. Since April 93
members did not renew and we have gained only 13 new members. We do not want to become an
organization of passive members but we do need to make League participation more
consistent with lifestyles of a younger generation. We are not the only organization
facing this problem. To develop new insights and possible programs, I am convening a group
of our younger members in January to address this issue. I welcome all who would like to
join in a rethinking, revitalization of our League.
The new news is that after several years of financial ups and downs, we
are on a positive track. We have established an endowment fund that we hope will give us
more financial stability in the future. Our fundraising to non- members is still marginal
but we have some new initiatives that we hope will turn that corner in the next year. We
have had one $1,000 "no strings" attached contribution this year and have the
potential of a $5,000 grant for Voters Service.
Of course, carrying out these programs takes people and that gets back
to membership. What if each member mentored a potential new member? That would be a giant
start.
In the meantime, we have a lot of activities coming up. The National
Program Planning General Meeting is January 19 and with $5.00 you can order a Brown Bag
lunch complements of the Upper 16th Street Unit (p. 3). Then, the follow-up meeting to the
Mayor's Summit is on January 27 (p. 7).
I hope at our Annual Meeting in April I can say, "I have good news
and I have more good news."
Yours in the League, Elizabeth M. Martin, President
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Don't Miss
Brown Bag Dialogue
January 24th, 11:30 a.m.
D.C. Council/Governors Reform Reports
Guest Speaker: Josh Wyner, Executive Director
LWVUS 1 0th Floor Board Room
1750 M Street, NW
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As we go to press, the December Unit festivities are still ahead. I
know they will be a success. The General Planning Meeting on January 19th replaces the
Unit meetings for January. Unit meetings will resume in February.
A nose count of attendance at the November Unit Meetings shows that
more members attended their Unit Meetings than in October (47 vs 39) but that we had fewer
guests (2 vs 7). Message to Unit members: Share what this League offers with your friends.
Message to members who have not attended a Unit meeting: See February's Unit Calendar in
the next issue of DC Voter for a meeting near you and plan to attend. Sheila
Keeny, Unit Director.
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Thank you to the following members for their generous donations! Jerry
N. Clark, Pablo Eisenberg, Evelyn Falkowski, Margaret Feldman, Ernest Lent, Grace
Malakoff, Anna Marsh, Elaine C. Melmed, Ruth Nadel, Susan Rao, Anne Meredith Smoke,
Patricia Wheeler, Alisa A. Wilkins.
With sorrow we report the death of two long time DC League members:
Mary F.G. Shaw, was active with the Montgomery League; then later was chairperson of the
Capitol Hill Unit helping register and educate voters. Harriette B. Short was active with
the Sixteenth Street Unit, telephoning members monthly. She served on LWV '98 Nominating
Committee.
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The Coalition for D.C. Representation in Congress is beginning to plan
a citywide forum for citizens. This type of gathering was requested by Leaguers at the
November unit meetings. Other requests and suggestions made at the units have been
forwarded to the Coalition.
Membership on the Board of the Coalition now totals 15 with the
election of Scott Harshbarger of Common Cause and Wade Henderson of the Leadership
Conference on Civil Rights. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Kathy Schmidt
at 232-6460.
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It seems to me passing strange that you will probably not be reading
this until the year 2000 -- a year I was never quite sure would arrive. That
"uncertainty" did not stop us, however, from planning momentous activities --
and planning to plan still more.
Our Transportation/Land-Use Committee is still busily developing a
sound foundation, determining what areas need further study and what action can and should
be taken. Others of us are moving to implement our new D.C.-finances positions.
Our Water Resources Committee, meanwhile, is cooperating with LWVUS on
an EPA-funded project to develop a training program focused on how to organize
intergovernmental and multi- stakeholder watershed management processes.
March Colloquium: ''Whither the League?" Both LWVUS and our local
Leagues are facing the problem of having too few members to carry out League efforts
needed within our local communities, our states, and in the nation. The millennium
challenge for all of us is to find ways to over-come this problem in ways that are
compatible with the League values. We will meet on Saturday, March 11, 2000, from 10 a.m.
to noon (registration beginning at 9:30), at the Montgomery County Executive Office
Building, 101 Monroe St., Rockville, Md. Come, discuss, help solve. The building is close
to the Rockville Metro station, and ample parking is available in the area. For more
information call Vice President Pat Dougherty (301-299-7886).
NCA's Annual Meeting. In a further effort to avoid conflict with member
Leagues' activities and the LWVUS Convention, our Annual Meeting has been set for Saturday
morning, June 10. What and where is still in the "arrangements" stage, but mark
your calendar because that's always a busy time of the year. Best wishes for a happy and
productive Year 2000 from all of us on the NCA Board.
Naomi Glass, President 202/686-0124
Forrest Williams, Editor 301/552-1681, email: forrestwill@aol.com.
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PREPARATION FOR CONVENTION 2000... IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
Bring this article and accompanying 1998-2000
National Program insert to January 19 meeting.
This general meeting is intended to gather from DC League members input
to the LWVUS National Program Planning in preparation for the National League of Women
Voters Convention 2000. The convention will be held June 17-20, 2000 at the Washington
Hilton. For this round of planning, we will convene as a general meeting instead of in
units. The key element of the Convention is to adopt a program for next biennium
2000-2002.
WED. JANUARY 19TH
SUMNER SCHOOL 17th & M Streets, NW
11:30 a.m.
Brown Bag Lunch in Gallery Room
12:00 noon - 2:00 p.m.
Program in Lecture Hall 102
(absolutely no food or drink)
As part of a new planning process to shape the work of the League,
individual member interest will be surveyed in the following areas: process for updating
positions, identifying community concerns, help needed by State and local leagues,
diversity, and voter services.
The survey will be included in the up-coming Dec/Jan. issue of the National
Voter, to be mailed to all members in mid-December, but we will address it at the
January program-planning meeting. We will look at current LWVUS "Positions in
Brief" (see insert) and discuss the aspect of the survey related to the process and
priorities for updating positions. The DC League's input is due by March 1 to LWVUS.
Individual members attending our January meeting may fill out the survey form at the
meeting and we will collect and pass them to LWVUS. Alternatively, you may prepare your
response at home. Your Board, however, would like to know what members think. Accordingly,
we ask that individual replies be sent to the DC League Office for forwarding to National.
On the next page for your convenience, is an extraction of the key
survey questions related to updating positions with an opportunity to review all existing
LWVUS positions:
1. Our Positions. "You'll notice that this survey does not ask you
to review every standing LWVUS position. That activity has failed to yield valuable
insights, resulting in many positions remaining on the books unchanged throughout rapidly
changing times. "You have told us - at recent conventions and councils and through
much correspondence- that the League needs to keep its positions up-to- date. The
challenge is determining which positions are most outdated, which ought to be priorities
for updating and what process will work best to accomplish this task.
"Because this concern has been evident for some time, and many
good suggestions have been made, we are prepared to make some proposals. It's up to you to
tell us if we're on the right track. Your League Board has been sent a separate Leader's
Guide that will provide them with an opportunity to review all existing LWVUS
positions.
PROPOSAL: That the LWVUS systematically review each position
area (Government, International Relations, Natural Resources and Social Policy) on a
rotating schedule through successive biennium's, choosing a priority position or positions
within each position area for in-depth review and update. Please circle your response. Agree
Disagree
PROPOSAL: That this process commence with a review of the
International Relations area in the 2000-2002 biennium. Please circle your response. Agree
Disagree
"We have identified two positions within this area that would
benefit from a thorough review and updating. Letting us know what you think is most
important.
QUESTION: Which position shall the LWVUS review and update in
the 2000-2002 biennium? Please circle one of the following three options: United
Nations Trade Other"
Your Board will be consulting with the International Relations
Committee as to its views, and it will have deliberated about this and other matters prior
to our January 19 meeting,
We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible. And remember to
route surveys through the DC Office if you have no objection. Barbara T. Yeomans,
3rd VP, National Program
Brown Bag Lunch Available for January 19th Meeting
The Upper Sixteenth Street Unit is offering you a Brown Bag Lunch @ $5.00 each at the
LWVDC Program Planning Meeting to be held Wednesday January 19, 2000 at The Sumner School.
The Lunch will consist of a sandwich (your choice), fruit, beverage, and a sweet. To
reserve a lunch, print out and mail this brown bag reservation
form.
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The DC League was very well represented at the 1999 Human Rights Day
Community Awards Luncheon sponsored by the United Nations Association Of the National
Capital Area, the UNA-USA Council of Organizations, and the Congressional Human Rights
Council. We filled our own table and various League members attended in conjunction with
other organizations to which they belong.
The luncheon was held on Dec. 10 at the Cannon Office Building at the
Capitol. The keynote speaker was Julianne Cartwright Traylor, chair of Amnesty
International-USA. The 1999 Louis B. Sohn Award for outstanding lifetime achievement and
commitment to education and promotion of human rights and the rule of law was given
jointly to Arvonne and Donald Fraser.Mrs .Fraser is the founder of the Women's Equity
Action League and her husband, a former congressman, chaired the Subcommittee on
International Organizations and Movements of the House Committee on International
Relations.
Community awards for human rights activism were given to 29 local
activists. These included Jamin Raskin and Charles Miller who were nominated by the DC
League "for their efforts to secure for the citizens of the District of Columbia
their full voting representation in their government, a right enshrined in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and now enjoyed by all other citizens of the United
States." Susan Rao
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MAKING IT HAPPEN: A FOCUS ON STRENGTHENING THE DC
LEAGUE
"Get on your feet. Get up and make it happen." Those words
are singer Gloria Estefan's, but I could use them about the League this year.
We can "get up and make it happen." But we need your help.
Call Guy Coriden, co-chair Voters Service, 2326759, to help with
registering new citizens after they are sworn. Time commitment: 3 hours, second Tuesday of
the month.
Call: Sheila Willet, Office Manager, at 347-3020. We have a variety of
office jobs. Time commitment: tailored to your convenience.
Call: Susan Rao, co-chair International Relations Committee, 636-1688,
to participate on the International Relations Committee. Time commitment: two hours per
month.
Call: Gladys Weaver, co-chair of the Education Committee, 5543055, to
participate in the committee's new project of voter education in the schools. Time
commitment: four hours per month.
Call: The League office to cover committee meetings and hearings of the
DC Council. Time commitment: minimum, four hours per month.
Call: Luci Murphy, chair, Nominating Committee, 234-8840, if you can
serve on the DC League Board. Time commitment: approximately 15 hours per month.
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At its December meeting, the IR Committee reopened its discussion of
the LWVUS survey on program items for the next two years. After a long debate, the
Committee adopted by general agreement the following position as the Committee's
recommendation to the LWVDC National Program Planning meeting in January.
The LWVUS positions on International Relations are in great need of
updating in view of the changes that have occurred since their adoption.
Among these are the demise of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold
War, increasing unilateral pressures at home, and rapid globalization. The Committee
agrees that the UN and Trade positions are in greatest need of review and updating, noting
that the former was adopted in 1977, while the latter dates from 1973 and 1965.
Some local leagues (including our own) and a group of individual
members working together via e- mail have already reviewed the UN position. A number of
independent expert studies on the UN are also available. We believe, therefore, that an
updated position on the UN could be achieved relatively quickly and cost effectively by
building on what has been done and by outsourcing the necessary background study. In
recognition of its urgency and complexity, a restudy of the trade issue should begin
simultaneously. This study will probably take much longer to complete. We have much
catching up to do!
The Committee also discussed its plans for the Feb. meeting, deciding
to invite a speaker for a general meeting rather than preparing for unit meetings.
Confirmed plans will be announced in the February DC Voter.
The committee's next meeting will be January 12, 2000. Susan
Rao and Sheila Keeny, Co-chairs.
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The conventional wisdom among a number of the city's political and
civic leaders is that the governance structure of the District's public school system is
in drastic need of change. DC Council members, DC Appleseed, a research group, and DC
Agenda have been exploring modifications that would affect the size of the School Board,
the way the Board members are selected, how the President of the Board is chosen, and the
responsibilities of the School board. DC League President, Liz Martin and nine other
League members recently participated in a series of task force meetings on school
governance convened by DC Agenda. DC Council member Kevin Chavous, DC Appleseed, and DC
Agenda have also recommended that the transition of power from the Emergency Board of
Trustees, which the Control Board has scheduled for June of next year, be delayed until
January 1, 2001.
Kevin Chavous has introduced legislation reducing the School Board to 9
members--a President, elected at large and eight members, who would be nominated in Ward
primaries and then compete in a city-wide run off with the other top vote-getters from
their wards. Council member Kathy Patterson has introduced legislation calling for a Board
appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council. Council member Sharon Ambrose is
reportedly working on a bill that would create a School Board that is partially appointed
and partially elected. The District of Columbia's Home Rule Charter says the City will
have an 11 member School Board-one elected from each ward and three elected at large. If,
as expected, the DC Council passes legislation changing the size and/or manner of election
of the Board, these changes will have to be approved by the voters in a referendum that
will take place at the time of the Presidential Primary on May 2 of next year.
Elinor Hart, Co-Chair, Voters Service.
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Keep this list next to your telephone for the next time you need one of
these services. Don't forget to tell your friends and relatives too!
Computer Assistance: Firoze Rao (Board member Susan's husband)
donates his computer expertise. Firoze works for Lockheed Martin and is willing to assist
people with their computer needs for a $50 donation to the League for up to two hours of
help. Call him at (202) 636-1688.
Desserts: If you need a special dessert, call Hope Mirindin at
(202) 966-6367. Her daughter. Eleanor, bakes "the best carrot cakes" in town.
Order one for a $35 donation.
Music: $50 will get you 2 hours of music with piano and
trumpet. Call Liz Martin at (202) 5373043.
Bed and Breakfast: Another outstanding value for one's money
is the League's Bed and Breakfast Program available to League members across the nation.
Jacqueline Russler does an outstanding job of coordinating reservations with the B&B
homes. We certainly appreciate each host/hostess. With the LWVUS National Convention
slated for June 12- 14, 2000, we can expect to have additional requests. Accommodation
fees are $60/night (double); $44/night (single). Call (202) 347-3020 to learn more about
becoming a host or hostess.
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Print out and mail this membership application for yourself or to give a gift
membership in LWVDC.
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CITIZEN SUMMIT: Mayor Action and Draft City-Wide
Strategic Plan Unveiled
One Leaguer's Observations
This citizen attended ail day Saturday. Having not been at the
introductory session the prior Thursday evening, I had no idea how the day would be run. I
arrived with a healthy dose of skepticism. I was amazed; it truly was exciting. Most of
the cost for the event was picked up by local firms.
There were 2,643 registered participants, plus many other staffing
agency exhibits surrounding the hall of the Convention Center. The main program was kicked
off by the Mayor around 9:30 a.m. and ran six hours straight with lunch brought in and
served right at the tables. We addressed city-wide issues in the morning and then
regrouped into neighborhoods within Wards in the afternoon. There were 39 groups of 3-4
neighborhood clusters occupying a number of tables as needed. The Mayor's draft strategic
plan driving budget development provided focus for discussion; a follow-up evening session
will be held at UDC in January. I think many for the first time believed there was some
way to influence basic priority-setting early in the process.
Summit Follow-up - Citizen Workshop
Thurs. Jan 27th 7 9:30 p.m.
At UDC
Naturally we need to see what flows from the "Summit,"
but I never thought such a credible effort for citizens to meet and exchange ideas could
be organized. One key to the Summit's success was an excellent moderator, Carolyn
Lukensmeyer (sp?), whom many Leaguers met last June at Council as she wound up a major
assignment for LWVUS (Social Security). Another key was assigning people randomly to
tables of ten, indicated by the folder you picked up upon entering. A third, and most
telling, was the availability of computer-based technology (keypads) and related visual
displays. At the outset Ms. Lukensmeyer led us through questions related to demographics:
ward representation, income ranges, age, sex, ethnicity, children in school, and voting in
last local election . We all had our own keypads (donated) and punched in the numbers of
the appropriate answers. The results by percentages flashed instantaneously on two huge
screens. Then Ms. Lukensmeyer gave us corresponding data for the City as a whole. We could
readily gauge how reasonably representative the crowd was and thus gained confidence that
the subsequent discussion would be worth while. Upon request of some, the percentage of
City workers participating in the program was tallied (19% yes; 81% no) which added to
confidence.
Attendance Demographics |
Age
Under 18, 12%
19-24, 12%
25-54, 35%
55-64, 19%
65+, 22% |
Income
0-25,000, 22%
25-39,999, 19%
40-59,999, 20%
60-100,000, 21%
100,000+, 8% |
Voted in Last Election Yes, 78%
No, 22% |
Gender
Women, 51%
Men, 49% |
DC Household Mean Income
$43,011 |
DC Citizens who voted in the last national election
52.4% |
Children in School
Yes, 30%; No, 70%
Kids in Grades
Elementary, 22%
Middle, 13%
High School, 19% |
Ethnicity at summit and in city
African-American, 61%, 62%
Asian, 5%, 2%
Caucasian, 22%, 31%
Native American, 5%, .5%
Multi-Cultural, 5%, N/A
Declined to state, 1% |
(From notes taken at summit by Sheilla Willet)
By using the keypads as well as laptop computers (wired into the visual
display system and operated by Public School student volunteers), we produced consensus by
table on various issues. In the morning the top vote getting themes for budgetary
priorities were "Building & Sustaining Healthy Neighborhoods." and
"Safe Passages: Children and Youth Investment." The keypad results from all the
tables were rapidly reported. In the afternoon the various neighborhoods registered their
priorities...a number clearly being shared widely across the city.
Citizens were given the opportunity to address matters not presented
in the prepared material, thus boosting our expectations that all concerns would be
addressed. What got done in one day was astounding. Barbara Yeomans, 3rd Vice
Pres., Nat'l Prog.
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Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
3 |
4 |
5 LWVDC Board Meeting, 10:00 a.m., LWVUS
Board Room, 1730 M Street, NW, 10th Floor |
6 Health Care System Development
Committee Open Forum, 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 1 Judiciary Square, Room 1030 |
7 |
10 Unit Council Meeting, 12:00 p.m.,
LWVDC, 733 15th Street, NW, Suite 432 |
11 February DC Voter Deadline |
12 10:00 a.m., Education Committee
Meeting, LWVDC, Suite 432, 733 15th Street, NW
1:00 p.m., International Relations Committee Meeting, LWVUS, 10th Floor, 1730 M Street, NW |
13 |
14 |
17 |
18 |
19 National Program Planning General
Meeting, 11:30 a.m., Brown Bag lunch, Gallery Room, 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m., Program
Lecture Hall, 102 Sumner School, 17th and M Streets, NW |
20 |
21 February DC Voter mailed |
24 Brown Bag Dialogue, 11:30 a.m., LWVUS
Board Room, 1730 M Street, NW, 10th Floor |
25 |
26 |
27 Citizen Summit Follow-up Meeting, 7:00
- 9:30 p.m., UDC |
28 |
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League of Women Voters of the United States
GOVERNMENT
Promote an open governmental system that is representative, accountable
and responsive; that has a fair and adequate fiscal basis; that protects individual
liberties established by the Constitution; that assures opportunities for citizen
participation in government decision making; that provides sound agricultural policy; and
that preserves public health and safety through gun control measures.
Agricultural Policy
Promote adequate supplies of food and fiber at reasonable prices to
consumers and support economically viable farms, environmentally sound farm practices and
increased reliance on the free market.
Citizen Rights
Citizen's Right to Know/Citizen Participation. Protect the
citizen's right to know and facilitate citizen participation in government decision
making.
Individual Liberties. Oppose major threats to basic
constitutional rights.
Public Policy on Reproductive Choices. Protect the
constitutional right of privacy of the individual to make reproductive choices.
Congress and the Presidency
Congress. Support responsive legislative processes
characterized by accountability, representativeness, decision-making capability and
effective performance.
The Presidency. Promote a dynamic balance of power between the
executive and legislative branches within the framework set by the Constitution.
DC Self-Government and Full Voting Representation
Secure for the citizens of the District of Columbia the rights of
self-government and representation in both houses of Congress.
Election Process
Apportionment. Support apportionment of congressional districts
and elected legislative bodies at all levels of government based substantially on
population
Campaign Finance. Improve methods of financing political
campaigns in order to ensure the public's right to know. combat corruption and undue
influence, enable candidates to compete more equitably for public office and promote
citizen participation in the political process.
Election of the President. Promote the election of the
President and Vice-President by direct popular vote and work to abolish the electoral
college; support uniform national voting qualifications and procedures for presidential
elections.
Fiscal Policy
Support adequate and flexible funding of federal government programs
through an equitable tax system that is progressive overall and that relies primarily on a
broadbased income tax: promote responsible deficit policies; support a federal role in
providing mandatory. universal, old-age, survivors, disability and health insurance.
Gun Control
Protect the health and safety of citizens through limiting the
accessibility and regulating the ownership of handguns and semi-automatic weapons.
Voting Rights
Protect the right of all citizens to vote; encourage all citizens to
vote.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Promote peace in an interdependent world by cooperating with other
nations, strengthening international organizations, fostering long-term development,
negotiating arms control measures and encouraging the successful resolution of conflicts
through nonmilitary means.
Arms Control
Reduce the risk of war through support of arms control measures.
Military Policy and Defense Spending
Work to limit reliance on military force; examine defense spending in
the context of total national needs.
Trade
Support systematic reduction of tariff and nontariff trade barriers and
support broad long-range presidential authority to negotiate trade agreements.
United Nations
Support measures to strengthen the United Nations, in recognition of
the need for cooperation among nations in an interdependent world.
U.S. Relations with Developing Countries
Promote U.S. policies that meet long-term social and economic needs of
developing countries.
NATURAL RESOURCES
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.
Resource Management
Promote resource conservation, stewardship and long range planning with the
responsibility for managing natural resources shared by all levels of government.
Environmental Protection and Pollution Control
Preserve the physical, chemical and biological integrity of the ecosystem, with the
maximum protection of the public health and environment.
Public Participation
Promote public understanding and participation in decision making as essential elements
of responsible and responsive management of our natural resources.
SOCIAL POLICY
Promote social and economic justice, secure equal rights for all, achieve universal
health care coverage at reasonable cost, promote the well being of children, and combat
discrimination, poverty and violence.
Child Care
Support programs, services and policies at all levels of government to
expand the supply of affordable, quality childcare for all who need it.
Early Intervention for Children at Risk
Support policies and programs that promote the well being, development
and safety of all children.
Equality of Opportunity
Support equal access to education, employment and housing. Support
ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment and efforts to bring laws into compliance with
the goals of the ERA.
Health Care
Promote a health care system for the United States that provides access
to a basic level of quality care for all U.S. residents and controls health care costs.
Meeting Basic Human Needs
Support programs and policies to prevent or reduce poverty and to
promote self-sufficiency for individuals and families.
Urban Policy
Promote the economic health of cities and improve the quality of urban
life.
Violence Prevention
Support violence prevention programs in all communities.
Whatever the issue, the League believes that government policy,
programs and performance must meet these criteria: competent personnel with clear
responsibilities, coordination among agencies and levels of government, adequate
financing, effective enforcement, well defined channels for citizen input and review.
1998-2000 ISSUE FOR EMPHASIS
Making Democracy Work
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