League of Women Voters of Hendersonville

The LWVH is represented on the LWV Tennessee Action Committee, which meets throughout the legislative session to determine positions on issues but does not support or oppose any political party or candidate for public office.

In addition, LWVH members routinely attend and observe local and county public policy meetings, primarily the Hendersonville Board of Mayor and Alderman (BOMA) meetings, the Sumner County Commission meetings and committee meetings and the Sumner County School Board meetings, among others. The purpose of this 'Observer Corps' is to be a visible champion of openness in government and to ensure that government bodies are protecting the citizen's right to know by giving adequate notice of proposed actions, holding open meetings and making public records assessible.

As issues arise that necessitate a position and action by the LWVH, those will be posted here.

~ ~ ~ ~

League of Women Voters of Hendersonville

Report to the Membership at our Annual Meeting ~ May 9, 2011
Action Committee

This year, the Action Chair did not directly participate in LWV TN state action committee, but did continue to serve on the committee by monitoring legislative activity.

The priorities for state action this year included:

RESPONSIBLE BUDGET:   Protect the Social Infrastructure.

 

Maintain the integrity of community based services for child welfare, education, health, human services, juvenile justice and mental health. 

 

ELECTIONS & OPEN GOVERNMENT:  Ensure voter and citizen access.

·        Oppose requiring photo IDs and proof of citizenship to vote.

·        Provide funding for timely implementation of TN Voter Confidence Act.

·        Support open government through access to public records, open meetings of public officials, public notice by printed and electronic means and general government transparency.

 

HEALTH CARE:  Support legislative and administrative implementation the Affordable Care Act, consistent with the Tennessee Health Insurance Exchange Guiding Principles. 

 

ENVIRONMENT:  Support measures to ensure clean waters.

·        Regulate hydraulic fracturing of gas wells to protect Tennessee water, health and infrastructure from contamination.

·        Restrict mountain top removal coal mining and construction or use of any new outlet for discharge of wastes into waters of the state.

·        Maintain dedicated funds from real estate transfers for land acquisition and protection.

 

EDUCATION:  Provide quality education.

• Maintain current funding level for state-funded, voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Programs serving 18,000 four-year-olds in Tennessee.

·        Maintain Appointed School Superintendents.

 

JUDICIAL SELECTION:  Support merit-based selection and retention.  Maintain a system that will ensure Tennessee keeps its high standard of quality for appellate judges—untainted by the partisanship that can be engendered by direct, contested elections.  

Outcomes as of May 9, 2011

SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE: Gov. Haslam's adjusted budget amendment was presented on Tuesday and it contained much good news for social services advocates.  The plan reinstates some of the cuts that were made in the original budget – most significantly to TennCare, including the 8.5% reduction to Mental Health and cuts to the Department of Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities for residential provider rates. 

HYDRAULIC FRACTURING: HR 98 sponsored by Rep. Jeanne Richardson that urges TDEC, the oil and gas industry and citizen groups (including the League by name) to collaborate on proposed regulations for hydrological fracturing is scheduled to be heard on the House Consent Calendar this week. 

MERIT-BASED JUDICIAL SELECTION: The proposed legislation that called for the election of all judges, was taken off notice last week. While there are joint resolutions filed dealing with constitutional amendments on this subject, those efforts are not expected to move forward this year.

PHOTO ID TO VOTE:  Legislation that requires all voters to have a photo ID has passed both houses and it will be heard on the Senate message calendar (to reconcile the differences in the House & Senate versions of the bill) next week.  There is a bill advancing in both the Senate and the House that would provide a free photo ID.  This bill will likely pass if an agreement can be reached in the budget negotiations for funding the IDs. 

 Locally, this spring the Action Chair initiated a pilot “Observer Corps” initiative to establish a process for league observation and reporting of key local government operations, specifically the school board, which has been covered competently by the Education Committee, as well as the County Commission and the BOMA in Hendersonville.

One area of particular league oversight is the budgets for the school, county and city. At this time, these are being reviewed and debates will begin. It will be important that the league monitor this process to ensure that process, transparency and citizen input are honored.

Observation will continue throughout the summer. It is planned that other LWVH members will get involved in the Observer Corps and that we can begin to post our observations on our website in the coming months, inclusive of any potential evidence of deficits in elected leadership or process.

Respectfully submitted:

 

Katrina Gay, Chair