LWVMA - Legislative Priorities
1/24/12 LWVMA Testimony in support of HB 1172/SB 414 An Act Prohibiting Discrimination in Insurance Policies and HB1173/SB413 An Act Providing Equitable Coverage in Disability Insurance
1/23/12 HB 3815 An Act Enhancing the Practice of Nurse Midwives passed in Massachusetts House and Senate! Once signed by Governor Patrick and implemented, Certified Professional Nurse Midwives will be allowed to order and interpret tests and to order therapeutics and certain prescription drugs.
1/18/12 LWVMA President Eva Valentine spoke in support of SB 772 -
A Resolution Restoring Free Speech at a press conference held at the
State House (talking
points). The resolution is in
response to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United v.
Federal Elections Commission, which overturned longstanding
precedent prohibiting corporations from spending their general treasury
funds on elections.
12/15/11 LWVMA Testimony in Support of H338/S501 An Act to Provide Improved Medicare for All and H1228/S500 An Act to Establish a Public Health Insurance Option, press release
11/2/11 LWVMA Testimony in Support of H1106: An Act to Establish Election Day Registration
9/27/11 LWVMA Testimony in Support of S185: Act Preventing Students from Dropping Out of School
S185 Hearing at which Terry Yoffie and Jo Corro
testified 
LWVMA Testimony of Aug 15 on Bill to Ensure Secure Voting Equipment (H196)
Casino Gambling (Oppose)
Government Transparency
2011- Redistricting
"Day on the Hill",
held on April 13.
LWVUS - Current Studies
WHERE WE STAND
LWVMA Positions on Issues
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LWVUS has a new website design, check it out here
Local League Events
1/26/12 LWV of Wayland presents "Sustaining Our Water Supply" at 7:30 pm, Wayland Town Building, with speakers Janot Mendler de Suarez, Co-Chair Global Oceans Forum Working Group on Oceans and Climate, Alison Field-Juma, Executive Director of Oars and Tom Sciacca, Wayland Wellhead Protection Committee, for more info click here
2/3/12 LWV of Lexington's First Friday Forum at 9:15am, Cary Memorial Library where Library Director Koren Stembridge will be talking about the library's services and how they are expanding and changing as we move into the digital age, for more info click here
2/12/12 LWV of Concord-Carlisle will host the Concord Candidates Forum at 2:00-4:00 pm, Town House Hearing Room, 22 Monument Square, Concord, MA. The forum features candidates running in the March 6, 2012 Town Election. Jo-Ann Berry (LWV-Acton Area) will moderate. Contact: VoterService@lwvcc.org Website: www.lwvcc.org. Press release
91 Years of Making Democracy Work
SUMMIT TO UNITE CITIZENS
LWVMA
participated in the
Summit to Unite Citizens on January 20–21, the anniversary of the
Citizens United decision, Occupy Boston along with a number of other
organizations rallied for GETTING MONEY OUT OF POLITICS. LWVMA
registered voters both days at the event and our Program
and Action Committee Chair Carole Pelchat led a workshop on legislative strategies on Saturday at 1:30 at Suffolk
University. For more information
click here and to view more photos check out our
facebook page
Our Annual Presidents' Breakfast was a great tool for local Leagues on Saturday October 29. Go to our facebook page to view more photos.
OLDER STORIES ILLUSTRATING ISSUES AND ACTIONS
Open Secrets Blog: LWVUS and Coalition Groups Fight to Put DISCLOSE Back on the Senate Floor
Fair and clean elections, determined by the votes of American citizens, should be at the center of our democracy. Enhanced disclosure is the most basic step toward protecting the role of voters and ensuring that they can make informed decisions.
NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE: A win for democracy in MA
Our current system for filling the highest office in the land is broken. The current Electoral College system of electing a president in separate state-by-state elections allows losers to win, creates opportunities for partisans to game the system and leads to most voters' preferences being essentially ignored...
Read more of the Huffington Post Report.
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS PRESIDENT VISITS MASSACHUSETTS IN CAMPAIGH REFORM EFFORT
Boston, MA, July 12, 2010- Elisabeth MacNamara, newly elected national president of the League of Women Voters, is visiting Massachusetts this week to drum up support for the DISCLOSE Act.
SPEAKER'S BILL - GAMBLING WITH MASSACHUSETTS ECONOMY April 6, 2010 - The Speaker of the House filed his long-promised legislation which, if enacted as written, will license two resort-style casinos and allow slot machines at four race tracks. The bill was voted out of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Expanding Technologies without a public hearing. The Speaker has established a deadline for amendments to the bill for this Friday, April 9.
HOUSE PASSES COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CARE REFORM
Washington, D.C. – Statement from Mary G. Wilson, President of the League of Women Voters of the United States:
"It would be difficult to overstate the importance of today’s actions, and we commend our elected representatives for standing up for Americans and having the courage to do what needs to be done to confront the health care crisis in our country. The League congratulates the House leadership on a closely-fought victory."
LWVMA AND OXFAM PUSH ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION IN DC
Washington, D.C., March 8, 2010 - The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts is traveling to D.C. this week to urge Massachusetts’s Senators to support strong climate change legislation.
AMERICAN INSTITUTION TURNS 90
"For the last 90 years, the League of Women Voters has left its footprint on American history, and our democracy is stronger for it," LWV President Mary Wilson concluded. "We look forward to continuing this work over the next 90 years." MORE
"VICTORY ON BEHALF OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING", states Clarice Gordon, LWVMA Housing Specialist
S. 2190, "An Act Preserving Publicly Assisted Affordable Housing", gives public entities or affordable housing organizations first rights to buy "expiring use" properties that would lose affordability restrictions.
The bill was passed in mid-November by the legislature and signed into law by Governor Patrick.
This is a real victory on behalf of affordable housing! At a time when the need for subsidized housing is growing, this law is a critical part of keeping the affordable housing stock and protecting individuals and families who need subsidies to be able to live in decent housing.
LWVMA ATTENDS STATE HOUSE HEARING IN OPPOSITION TO CASINO GAMBLING
A move by the Massachusetts Legislature to change laws to allow for casino gambling in the Commonwealth.
Read the Testimony HERE
LWVMA TESTIFIES AT STATE HOUSE HEARING IN SUPPORT OF H. 3515 and S. 1480
An Act to Improve the Recycling Rates in the Commonwealth
Read the LWVMA Bottle Bill Testimony HERE