The Manatee Voter - League of Women Voters of Manatee County

The Manatee Voter
Newsletter of the League of Women Voters of Manatee County
January – April 2015
P.O. Box 545
Bradenton, FL 32406
www.lwvmanatee.org
Tel: (941) 744-9692
The League of Women Voters, a non-partisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in
government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through
education and advocacy.
Happy New Year!
We Had It
Covered!
Upcoming Events
Mark your calendar now
Given our strong commitment
to voter education and
participation, our League hit
the ground running this election season to do everything
we could to help educate voters and encourage a high
turnout. Our volunteers have truly done an amazing job
this election, including….
Voter Registration: This project was a tremendous
success, not only in the numbers registered (over 500),
but also the bonds we formed with the schools and
other community organizations. We registered at every
high school in the county to enlist new voters and
showed a powerpoint as to why it was important to
vote. We also registered at libraries, restaurants, and
community fairs.
Candidate Forums: We teamed up with the Bradenton
Herald and METV in a series of timed debates for
candidates for US, state, county and city elections. We
also participated in debates in partnership with other
groups such as the AMI Sun, covering the contests in
our beach cities, and at the Manatee Fish & Game
summit.
Voter Guides: Our most important product is our Voter
Guides, which present nonpartisan information on
candidates and ballot initiatives. We distributed 6,000
state LWV general election guides (which contain the
state candidates and constitutional amendments), and
8,000 (4,000 each) for the local primary and general
elections, to public libraries, civic and community
centers. These have been invaluable to the voters in
making their decisions. We thank the Bradenton Herald,
M&M Printing and Bealls for their support of our printed
local guides.
Amendment Talks: There were just three state
constitutional amendments on the ballot this election,
but they were controversial and confusing. We cleared
Jan. 6—Tuesday, 2:00 pm. Board meeting at the
Women’s Resource Center, 1926 Manatee Ave W.
Jan. 12—Monday, 11:30 am. Hot Topic on PoliceMinority Relations. Bradenton Woman’s Club, 1705
Manatee Ave W. See p 3.
Feb. 3—Tuesday, 2:00 pm. Board meeting at the
Women’s Resource Center, 1926 Manatee Ave W
Feb. 9—Monday, 11:30 pm. Hot Topic on Health Care
Expansion. Bradenton Woman’s Club, 1705 Manatee
Ave W. See p. 3
Feb. 28—Saturday, 10:00 am. Wagon Tour of
Robinson Preserve. See p. 7.
Mar. 3—Tuesday, 2:00 pm. Board meeting at the
Women’s Resource Center, 1926 Manatee Ave W
Mar. 9—Monday, 11:30 am. Hot Topic on Campaign
Finance Reform. Bradenton Woman’s Club, 1705
Manatee Ave W. See p. 3.
Mar. 21—Saturday, 11:30 am. Women of
Achievement Luncheon, Palm Aire. See p. 2
Apr. 7—Tuesday, 2:00 pm. Board meeting at the
Women’s Resource Center, 1926 Manatee Ave W.
Apr. 25—Saturday, 11:00 am, LWV Manatee Annual
Meeting. Bradenton Country Club.
1
the air by holding two Hot Topics, featuring pro and con
speakers, and several talks at community organizations
to explain what these amendments say and what they
would change.
Voter Information Center: To reach even more
voters with our election information, we assembled all
the nonpartisan information in one place—on our
website. We included links to our guides, as well as links
to METV and other nonpartisan sites with information on
candidates and issues—a one-stop shopping center for
voting information. It proved to be a big hit with the
users and certainly extended our informational reach.
Our website stats show 12,325 visits in October, and
11,806 in November.
questionnaire on the back of the form, to garner your
suggestions. Please include in your New Year’s
resolutions—“to become more active in the League and
help recruit new members.” The more members we
have, the more we can do!
Thanks again, and have a great New Year!
Rosalie Shaffer
LWV Manatee now on Facebook!
You can now “like us” on Facebook!
Members Ashley Brown and Amanda Horne created a
page for us on this very important social media tool. We
now join the ranks of other Leagues which are finding
this a great way to connect with the public and share
information, ideas, news and photos.
Find it at:
www.facebook.com/lwvmanatee, or click on the link to it
on our website, www.lwvmanatee.org. Thanks so much,
Ashley and Amanda!
In the blizzard of political ads this election, we stood out
as the main source of nonpartisan, unbiased information
that the voters rely upon. Here’s one phone comment
we received in November that sums it up well: ”Thank
you for helping me. I don’t know what I would have done
without your information.”
From the President
LWV Board Member named
Woman of Achievement!
All I can say is…Wow! What an
election! This is where the rubber
meets the road for any local
League of Women Voters. This is
where we count the most—when
the voters depend on us so much
for nonpartisan information about
the candidates running for office
and amendments to be on the ballot.
See our Voter Services Report on pages 1 and 2 for
more details.
Speaking of Ashley, we are very
proud that she has been named a
Woman of Achievement by the
Bradenton Branch of the American
Association of University Women, for her work at the
Women’s Resource Center and many other efforts for
our community. She and four other local leaders will be
honored at an AAUW luncheon to be held on Saturday,
March 21 at the Palm Aire Country Club, 5601 Country
Club Way, Sarasota at 11:30 am. The event will also be
a fundraiser for the AAUW scholarship fund. Tickets $40.
For more information and to make a reservation, email
Nan Rankin, nan808@aol.com
We also saw the need after the election to introduce the
newly elected (and re-elected) candidates to their
constituents and to members of the other boards that
they will be working with. Our Meet and Greet event
held on November 20 at Soma Creekside Restaurant was
a great success. One official thanked us after the event
for providing the opportunity to have meaningful
conversations. We thank our event partners: Bradenton
Herald, Manatee Chamber of Commerce, Manatee Tiger
Bay, and Soma Creekside Restaurant for their help and
participation. We hope to do it again in November 2016.
LWV Manatee Officers and Board Members
President: Rosalie Shaffer, 729-9248
email: shaffer_us@yahoo.com
Vice-President: Jane Plitt
Secretary: Paula Roberts
Treasurer: Valerie Fisher
Health Committee: Sue Dickie
Hospitality: Cindy Nelson
Natural Resources: Paula Roberts
Outreach: Ashley Brown
Voter Services: Kay Levy, Anne McFarland
Board member at large: Melissa Rhodes
But mostly, I’d like to thank our volunteers who worked
so hard during this election cycle, and you, our members
for your support. We will be shifting gears somewhat in
2015, and focus more on issues, such as health care,
voting rights, improving elections, and preparing for
Election Year 2016.
You can help. Please keep us strong by renewing your
membership for 2015. This year we have included a
2
Don’t miss these
Mark your calendar now
For more information visit www.lwvmanatee.org
LWV Manatee programs this spring on the big issues of the day
Hot Topic programs are held at the Bradenton Woman’s Club, 1705 Manatee Ave. W., from 12 noon to 1:00 pm. Doors
open at 11:30 am for a light lunch ($5 donation) and social time. Open to the public.
Monday, January 12:
Police and Minority Community Relations. Recent
confrontations between police and minorities have resulted in the deaths of several young,
unarmed African Americans. These acts have kindled outrage in communities and calls for
justice, reform and better relations. How can Manatee County avoid the mistakes and
tragedies happening elsewhere? Speakers: Susie Copeland, president of the Manatee
NAACP, Bradenton Chief of Police Michael Radzilowski; and Palmetto Chief of Police Rick
Wells.
Monday, February 9:
Expanding Health Care in Florida. The upcoming Florida
Legislative session will provide a vital opportunity for the state to accept the $51 billion in federal
funds to ensure the health care gap is closed and our lowest income workers have affordable access
to health care, and also to help lower costs for businesses, hospitals, and our county. While
legislators have balked at the Medicaid expansion in the past, there is a new private-sponsored
initiative that could resolve the current roadblock. Speakers: Kevin DiLallo, CEO of Manatee
Memorial Hospital; Jill Gass, director of We Care Manatee, which provides health services for those
without insurance or Medicaid, and Jamie Harden, president of Creative Sign Designs, an affected
business, who will explain the Healthy Florida initiative (see page 8 for more information about that proposal).
Monday, March 9: Campaign Finance Reform. During the recent elections billions of
dollars flowed from parties, wealthy individuals, committees, PACs and SuperPACs into campaign
coffers. Our own voices were drowned out by a sea of political advertising in every form of media.
What changes would work best to protect our democracy and help reverse some of the effects of the
Citizens United court decision? Speakers: Rhana Bazzini, leader of this effort in our area, who
recently walked from Sarasota to Tallahassee to underscore the need for reform. Additional speaker
awaiting confirmation.
Saturday, April 25: LWV Manatee Annual Meeting and Program. Our annual
business meeting, luncheon and program. Enjoy a fine lunch at the Bradenton Country
Club and a guest speaker on a topic of great interest to our organization. We are awaiting
confirmation of the planned speaker, and will post that information soon. The BCC is located at
4646 Ninth Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34209. The business meeting will start at 11:00 and
lunch at 11:45 am. Cost: $30. The public is invited to attend. More information and RSVP
form will be posted and emailed soon.
3
New Members
LWV of Florida reviews accomplishments and goals August – December 2014
Marlene Focht, Margery Schiller,
Loretta Steiger, and Judith
Tremaine.
Top 5 Accomplishments of 2014
♦ Passage of Amendment One, protecting Florida's
water and wild lands - one of the most significant
environmental victories in the country
♦ Defeat of Amendment Three, that would have allowed
outgoing Governors to appoint future Justices
♦ Distribution of one million voter guides informing
citizens on candidates and amendments
♦ Volunteers speaking to thousands of citizens as part
of our Speaker Corps
♦ With League as lead plaintiff in Fair Districts lawsuits,
the court declared Congressional maps unconstitutional
requiring modifications. Also, courts upheld the League's
assertion that sealed documents should be part of the
public record signaling to legislators that they must
uphold the law.
Thank you for joining!
Help us grow. Ask a friend to join
our League The Book Mark Given the billions of $$ that made their way into
campaign coffers this past election, a reading of these
two recent books underscores the need for campaign
finance reform.
Big Money, by Kenneth Vogel,
2014
This book is a must-read for anyone
concerned about the future of our
democracy. The bulk of Big Money is
devoted to providing the details of
how big money operates since the
Citizens United
Supreme Court
decision - both for Democrats and
Republicans. In addition to buying
legislative influence, independent groups (largely funded
by mega-donors) spent more money ($2.5 billion) in
2012 than the parties themselves ($1.6 billion). One
result is that parties are losing their ability to pick their
candidates and set direction for those elected because
politicians are now less reliant on their financial backing.
The PACs, rather than the parties, are now determining
candidate positions on issues and their decision making
in office.
Looking ahead, here is what we hope to accomplish in
2015 with YOUR HELP
1. Make Florida healthier: Ensure the Legislature TAKES
the $51 billion in federal funds to ensure the health care
gap is closed and our lowest income workers have
affordable access to health care.
2. Ensure a well-planned implementation of Amendment
One that both protects the Everglades and helps repair
and protect our declining springs and rivers.
3.
Passage of a law to allow electronic voter
registration, already passed in 24 states, making
registration more accessible, cost effective and accurate.
4. Prevent any further expansion of vouchers, draining
our public schools of desperately needed funds, and
creating a parallel school system with no accountability.
5. Stop the passage of laws that will make it easier for
students and visitors to carry guns in our K-12 schools
and universities.
6. Get a Floridians' for a Fair Democracy amendment on
the ballot for 2016. (see p. 5 for more information)
Extortion, by Peter Schweitzer,
2013
This is the flip side of big money
buying influence. It is generally
known that large contributions
translate into Congressional “favors"
in voting on bills. But what if, in
reality, it's the other way around?
What if it's the politician that has
the corporation in their pockets,
and it's the senator or congressman that tells that entity
to donate to his campaign and how much to donate, to
ensure that the corporation will remain in business and
continue to profit. And what happens if the corporation
does not cooperate?
Why are votes on industrysensitive bills held right after campaign fundraisers?
(This book is available at the Manatee County Public
Library)
Your help is CRITICAL if we are going
to be able to look back next year and
say "WE GOT IT DONE!" Thank you for
all you've done and for all you may still
be willing to help us get accomplished!
Let us know if you would like to serve
on any of our committees.
Deirdre Macnab
LWVF President
(407) 415-4559
4
History of Women Suffrage makes for an Inspiring LWV Tour by Jane Plitt
Vice President
This fall I had the honor and privilege of leading the 2nd Florida League of
Women Voters-sponsored Suffrage Tour of Upstate New York, assisted by
Elizabeth Pines, Esq. a state board member. The tour, held October 22-26,
shared the worlds of these suffrage leaders and also spotlighted activities that
were currently being launched to keep the issues of equality alive.
The group included men and women from Colorado, Virginia and throughout Florida, who were dazzled by the courage
and pioneering efforts of Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Harriet Tubman, Fredrick Douglass, and many other
far less well-known Suffragists. The group was treated to behind the scenes insights at the University of Rochester's
Susan B Anthony Center and Rush Rhees Library, where original letters and artifacts are held, along with the Rochester
Museum and Science Center's collection of Anthony's shawl, quilt, and letters, plus artifacts from pioneering entrepreneur
Martha Matilda Harper.
Of course, the group visited Susan B. Anthony's home and even toured the Mount Hope Cemetery where Anthony,
Douglass and other movement leaders are buried. We then left Rochester to discover Auburn, NY, where Secretary of
State (and almost President) William Seward resided with his social action-oriented wife Frances. Their mansion was a
stop on the Underground Railroad and they subsidized the purchase of the nearby farm Harriet Tubman lived on after her
13 missions to the South to free over 70 slaves. What bravery on the part of both of these families!
Seneca Falls is the home of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and location of the 1848 Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments,
where brave men and women called for women to have the right to vote! We also visited the National Women's Hall of
Fame. The Hall and the Women's Historical Park are currently undergoing plans for a major expansion. Stay tuned.
Maybe we can help! Photo: Jane communes with statues of suffrage leaders Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony.
Restoring the Right to Vote
In most states convicted felons may vote after completion of their sentences. However, in
Florida a past felony conviction can mean a permanent loss of the right to vote. Florida is
one of just 11 states that continue to restrict voting rights even after a person has completed probation or other terms of
a sentence. In Florida that loss of civil rights also takes away the right to hold public office, serve on a jury, and hold
certain types of state job licenses. Only three other states have rules as strict as Florida’s.
Florida used to have a simple path to restoration, but in 2011 the state ended the common practice of automatically
restoring the voting rights for non-violent ex-felons who had served their time, and paid all fines and fees. Instead all
individuals convicted of any felony now must apply for executive clemency after a five year waiting period. Since then,
more than 50,000 people a year are being added to a list of other ex-felons who just want their rights back.
But a person with a past felony conviction loses these civil rights permanently until and unless he or she is granted
restoration of civil rights by the Board of Executive Clemency. The Board of Executive Clemency is comprised of the
Governor, Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, and Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
How many voters are affected? About 10 percent (1.5 million) of Floridians are barred from the voting booth by a past
felony conviction. It hits hardest upon the minority populations—a shocking 23 percent of Florida’s African Americans are
disenfranchised. In Florida, both serious crimes and less serious ones may take away voting rights for life.
What remains less known is how broken the system for restoring voting rights has become. Due to the backlog,
Individuals may wait as long as 13 years after completing their sentences to get a hearing on having their rights restored.
Even then, they have less than a 1 percent chance of having their rights restored, according to the Florida Rights
Restoration Coalition. (continued on page 6)
5
(cont’d from p. 5) The League of Women Voters of Florida and the coalition group Floridians for a Fair Democracy, are
currently circulating a petition for a 2016 ballot initiative to address this injustice. The Voting Restoration Amendment
would allow Floridians who have served their felony sentences, but are not convicted of murder or sexual offenses, to
have their voting rights back as soon as they complete their sentence, including parole or probation.
Right now, you can go online and sign the petition to get the amendment on the 2016 ballot.
Download the petition here: http://election.dos.state.fl.us/initiatives/fulltext/pdf/64388-1.pdf
Let us know if you would like to help distribute these petitions. Email: lwvmanatee@yahoo.com
Ballot summary: This amendment restores the voting rights of Floridians with felony convictions after they complete all
terms of their sentence including parole or probation. The amendment would not apply to those convicted of murder or
sexual offenses, who would continue to be permanently barred from voting unless the Governor and Cabinet vote to
restore their voting rights on a case by case basis.
that the Florida Forever program called “highly
endangered” because of intense growth pressures.
The Florida Land and
Water Amendment
We should know soon enough the intentions of the
Legislature. The Florida Senate has promised a "water
policy overhaul" in 2015 and we can expect to see
effects on natural resources. We'll want to be ready to
contact state senators and representatives when
legislation comes to the floor, either to support or
oppose.
--It’s up to the Legislature
now
The Florida League of Women
Voters and all of its local leagues
actively supported Amendment 1
on the November ballot. We celebrated when it passed
with a 75% approval of the voters—a strong statement
of public support. However, the battle to preserve and
protect Florida’s critical resources is not over.
It’s not enough to get an amendment onto the
Constitution. The League and all of its partner
organizations worked too hard for Amendment 1, and
Florida's land and water are too fragile for us to rest
now. Want to help? The LWVM Natural Resources
Committee needs more volunteers so that we can cover
more issues. Please email me if you are interested.
Now that Amendment 1 has passed, one-third of the
state document tax income derived from the sales of
real estate must be used specifically for Florida’s land
and water conservation. That's good. However, over the
last several years, the state Legislature had been raiding
the existing doc stamp funding for Florida Forever, using
it instead for other programs or to make up for tax cuts,
and leaving just a fraction of the former funding for
natural resources. It's not clear how the legislature will
proceed at this point with the implementing legislation.
Will they follow the intention of the amendment and the
will of the voters?
Paula Roberts
Natural Resource Committee Chair
prob2225@yahoo.com
Manatee Tiger Bay appointment
There is concern that existing environmental programs—
not land acquisitions—could be transferred into Florida
Forever as legitimate land or water improvements.
Programs could meet the criteria, but not necessarily the
intention of the law. While it's unlikely that acquisitions
would be as poorly funded as in the last few years, it
could mean that the dreams of restoring the fund to its
previous strength would be undermined, and the quality
of Florida’s water, wildlife, fisheries, and tourism
economy decline as our state grows.
Another honor for our LWV is the recent
appointment of our President Rosalie Shaffer to the
Board of Directors of Manatee Tiger Bay. Manatee
Tiger Bay Club is a non-partisan organization formed
to present exciting, stimulating and thought
provoking programs. Topics range from, but not
limited to political, social, local, state or national
issues. They have luncheon meetings every month
at the Pier 22 Restaurant. For more information,
visit: www.manateetigerbay.org.
One of the planned acquisitions in Manatee County that
could be affected is Terra Ceia, a high-priority
conservation land on the southeast shore of Tampa Bay
6
Would you like to serve?
At our annual meeting and election in April we will elect officers and board members for two year terms. Our
Nominations Committee is gearing up to recruit members who are dedicated and wish to help with the work of our
League. This year’s committee: Jo Williams, Chair, Marie Hausman, Marjorie Roberts, and two Board members to be
appointed. Please contact Jo if you would like to serve on our board: 795-5801, Hjowms@tampabay.rr.com
League of Women Voters of Florida 2015 events
All members are encouraged to attend these events. They are a great way to get
training and information, and to meet members of other Leagues.
Legislative Summit, March 10-12, DoubleTree Hotel, Tallahassee
Essentially our "lobby days," LWVF's annual Capitol Impact Days brings members from
all over the state to Tallahassee to advocate on our issues before state leaders, ensuring that a strong and united League
voice is heard. This two-day conference during legislative session includes an orientation program, seminars and trainings
on understanding League positions and advocating with civility, briefings with legislative leaders in the Cabinet room of
the Florida Capitol, lobbying legislators in person, members-only formal luncheons and dinners, and exciting fundraising
galas with Florida leaders. For more information and to register, visit: www.thefloridavoter.org/events/legislative-summit
Convention, May 15-16, Hyatt Place Hotel, Delray Beach
All members are invited to LWVF's upcoming Convention! Join your fellow Leaguers to commemorate LWVF State
President Deirdre Macnab as she reaches the end of her term! This event will bring members from all across the state
together for two days of exciting activities, including an oceanside gala, an evening of live music and more! Participants
will also learn about the League's issues via caucuses and educational workshops, and will help shape LWVF's 2015-2017
Program during Plenary sessions at the historic Old School Square Crest Theater.
For more information and to register, go to www.thefloridavoter.org/events/convention-council
Many thanks to our vice president Jane Plitt for representing us at both the national and state LWV conventions in 2014!
∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗∗
LWV Wagon Tour of Robinson Preserve
Given the huge success of our holiday river cruise in December, we will offer another
guided group tour of one of our other natural gems, Robinson Preserve. We will roll
through the preserve in a covered wagon while our tour guide explains the preserve’s
history, resident wildlife, fabulous flowers, and preserve highlights.
This 487-acre preserve has undergone an incredible transformation from disturbed farmland to coastal and wetland
habitats. Robinson Preserve also features numerous recreational opportunities for the community, including hiking and
biking trails and a canoe/kayak launch. Additional amenities include observation towers and platforms, picnic areas, and a
visitor center.
When: Saturday, February 28, from 10 to 11:00 am. Please arrive by 9:45
Where: Robinson Preserve is located in northwestern Bradenton, across the street from
the Palma Sola Botanical Gardens. Address: 1704 99th St NW, Bradenton. Take SR 64
(Manatee Avenue) west. Turn north on 75th St West and drive to 17th Ave NW. Turn left
and continue to the end of the street.
Cost: $5 per passenger.
Space is limited, so RSVP soon to : 729-9248 or shaffer_us@yahoo.com
7
Join the League!
See: www.lwvmanatee.org
Are You Ready to Vote?
Be sure your registration is up to date.
See: www.bereadytovote.org
The League of Women Voters, a non-partisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in
government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through
education and advocacy.
The Healthy Florida Works Initiative (from: http://ahealthyfloridaworks.com/our-plan/
Overview: A Healthy Florida Works, a bipartisan coalition of business leaders, chambers of commerce, statewide
business organizations and concerned individuals, has developed a framework for using available federal funds to extend
health care coverage to more Floridians. A Healthy Florida Works Plan is a fiscally responsible approach that brings Florida
dollars sent to Washington, D.C., back to Florida.
How does it work? Similar to private option plans adopted in other states, A Healthy Florida Works Plan is based on
free market principles where private insurance providers elect to participate and consumers have choices. Individuals and
families will choose a health plan through a state private operated online health insurance marketplace. To be eligible,
participants must meet certain annual income levels, pay nominal premiums and participate in job and education training
activities. Premiums paid by enrollees are reinvested into accounts that can be used for additional health services or
education. Participating private providers will be paid on a per member, per month basis.
Who is covered? In the first year, approximately 800,000 more Floridians will receive health care coverage and it is
anticipated that approximately one million people will receive benefits over time. These are uninsured people who earn on
average less than $16,000 per year (less than $32,900 for a family of four) and are not eligible for coverage through the
current Medicaid program: young people age 19 and 20, parents, disabled seniors and individuals, childless adults, ages
21 – 64. Participants will receive essential benefits, including: preventative care, obstetrical care, inpatient stays,
outpatient care, lab tests, prescription drugs, emergency room visits, rehabilitation services and mental health/substance
abuse services.
How is it funded? Funding for A Healthy Florida Works Plan is already available. More than $50 billion in federal funding
is being paid through taxes on health insurers, taxes on durable medical equipment and reductions in payments to
hospitals to cover the cost of care provided to seniors and the uninsured. It is also estimated that this plan will help
Florida save state dollars by eliminating the Medically Needy Program.
8