LWVOR Endorses Yes Vote on Measure 49
President's Column
Health Care Reform in 2007
By Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator
On July 7th, your State League Board voted to support Measure 49, including using our time, energy and funding to help save Oregon’s agricultural industry and special places. Measure 49 will also balance the rights of long-time property owners with their neighbors.
Since the passage of Measure 37 in 2004, League members have monitored local and state claims and have seen firsthand the problems created by that measure, problems for both valid claimants and for the surrounding community. Measure 49 allows valid claimants, and now adds their spouses (as of date of marriage), to build up to 3 homes on their long-owned property or to transfer these rights to others, something Measure 37 did not do. Claimants may even be able to have 10-20 home sites if they can prove lost value.
Your State Board urges you to hold advocacy meetings in support of Measure 49, to consider connecting with the statewide campaign (www.yeson49.com), and to Vote YES on Measure 49.
Marge Easley
It’s an exciting time to be a League member!
According to many sources, more people than ever are searching for ways to make a difference in their communities. They are fed up with the divisiveness of political discourse, but feel powerless as individuals to effect change. As you head into the fall season in your local Leagues, remember that it’s the perfect time to let the secret out about our unique strengths as a grassroots organization. Although the internet has dramatically changed the political and cultural landscape, the League offers a true community of like-minded individuals who actually meet face to face, form life-long relationships, study issues in depth, and perform a vital service for the public. What could be better than that?
I want to put in a plug for a wonderful idea developed by LWVUS that showcases how League members really are “ordinary people doing extraordinary things”. It’s called “Storybank”, a compilation of stories on how the League has shaped individuals’ lives. You can access it by logging onto the Members section under Membership Recruitment Initiative on the www.lwv.org website. I encourage you to submit your own stories that will most certainly be an inspiration for potential members.
Speaking of inspiration, our state action team deserves kudos for their exceptional dedication this past legislative session. Special thanks to Norman Turrill, our Action Chair, to Brena Moyer Lopez, our Legislative Coordinator, and to our stalwart action team Liz Frenkel, Kappy Eaton, Karen Nibler, and Peggy Lynch for many, many hours of monitoring hearings, attending meetings, writing and delivering testimony, and preparing text for the weekly Legislative Reports. And of course, a huge thanks to Rebecca Smith, our office administrator, who did a fantastic job producing those reports. It was a rewarding, whirlwind session, and we can be very proud of what the League accomplished. We are also truly delighted that Kappy Eaton has been the recipient of a very special honor (page 5).
Fall Workshop is a great opportunity to tap into the energy and enthusiasm that invariably happens when League members gather from around the state. This year it will be held on October 6 in Eugene, and ALL League members are urged to attend. Highlights will include a membership recruitment workshop, a water issues discussion to kick-start our water study, and an informative session on Measure 49. We’re lining up some wonderful speakers and hope to see you there. A registration form is included in this issue of the Voter.
By Karen Nibler, Social Policy Coordinator
In a recent survey of Legislative Report readers, the topic of health care was of highest interest to League members. The Healthy Oregon Act, SB 329, was passed at the end of the 2007 Legislative session, and the League will be following the development of the health plan from the end of this session through the next two sessions. The revision of the Oregon health care system will impact all citizens and maybe all residents in the state. Next session will be decisive for the future of health care.
The Senate Health Care Reform Committee started the session with proposals formulated during the interim by Senator Bates, Morse and Westlund, and heard from many stakeholders before passing the final bill. This committee started with Governor Kulongoski, former Governor Kitzhaber, the Oregon Business Council and the Oregon Health Policy and Research office before they heard from insurance company representatives, seniors, and health care advocates. Kitzhaber’s SB 27 was opposed by AARP due to its inclusion of Medicare enrollees in the plan, but many aspects of his plan were included in SB 329’s final form. During the interim, the original three Senators will continue on this committee and receive reports.
The bill establishes the Oregon Health Trust Board to administer the program. The Governor has already appointed a temporary executive director, and all appointees are to be on board by October of 2007. The administrator of the Oregon Health Policy and Research office will have a role in compiling data and conducting research for the board. Three commissions will provide information on finance, benefits, eligibility and enrollment. Subcommittees will submit an interim report on February 29, 2008.
A comprehensive plan is due to the Governor, Legislative Council, President and Speaker by October 1, 2008, and will be submitted to the 2009 Legislative Session. The timeline stipulates that the plan be operative by January 2, 2010. The Department of Health Services – Health Division will be required to authorize pilot programs to test alternative health care delivery systems with a sunset date of December 31, 2010.
The Oregon Health Fund was established to receive sources of contributions for the program. Sources are employer and employee contributions, individual premiums, federal funds and state matching funds, which will be separate from the General Fund. The Oregon Prescription Drug Program will be under the Board and funds will be transferred to the Oregon Health Fund. Oregon’s Health Policy and Research Office will also be brought under the Board and will continue to advise and collect data.
The Oregon Health Fund program goals are to ensure all Oregonians timely access to a health benefit plan, cover a defined set of essential health services, allow employers, employees, unions and individuals options, and include public and private health care partnerships. The program will use proven models of health care benefits, a primary care medical home, with emphasis on preventive care and chronic disease management, dignified end of life care, service delivery, and payments that control costs and overutilization.
The League has a national position on universal health care, and the Healthy Oregon Act plan contains elements of our position. The League gave no testimony in this committee because the bill went through constant revision. However, next session with the Comprehensive Plan due to be submitted, the League should be prepared to monitor the development of the details and to testify on elements of the plan. LWVOR has adopted a one page statement of our Health Care Principles.
During this 2007 Legislative Session, six committees heard health care bills, and LWVOR did not have a sufficient number of member volunteers available to monitor all of them. The House Health Care Committee, the Senate Health Policy and Public Affairs Committee and the Senate Health Care Reform Committee each drafted other bills, but many of them failed toward the end of the session. The Health Care Reform committee was monitored by Anita Francis, Salem member, throughout the session. Former Action Committee Chair and Social Policy Chair, Jane Baumgarten, collected materials and sent them to the LWVOR Action Committee.
The development of new health care systems will impact all Oregon residents and the League should inform its members about the new proposals. A League Health Care Coordinator and more volunteers are needed to monitor and to take action next session. Members with health care experience or interest in health issues can start monitoring during the interim session. Contact the LWVOR office, Action Committee members or your local LWV officers if you can spare some time to get involved in health care issues.
The Healthy Kids bill was tracked by Barbara Ross early in the session, but it was stalled. Last ditch efforts were made to draft alternative bills, but House versions failed to get a 3/5 vote for a tobacco tax revenue to fund the program. The Senate version of Healthy Kids and the tobacco tax, SB 3 and SJR 4, did pass with majority votes on the last days of the session. The League testified in support of SB 3, the Healthy Kids program, but did not support SJR 4, the constitutional amendment, which has been referred to the voters this November as Measure 50. LWVOR is neutral on Measure 50 since we support the issue but do not believe a tobacco tax belongs in the constitution.
The League of Women Voters of Oregon has worked hard to ensure access to affordable, quality health care for all residents and to ensure the protection of patients’ rights. We believe there is a growing crisis in the delivery and financing of health care. We favor the transition to a new system that meets the following criteria:
The League recognizes that the equitable allocation of resources may become problematic. The League recommends strategies such as allocating medical resources to underserved areas, training health care professionals in needed fields of care, standardizing basic levels of service, using community rating instead of experience rating and establishing insurance pools for businesses and organizations.
The League believes that the ability of a patient to pay for services should not be a consideration in the allocation of medical services. In the event it becomes impossible to provide full services for all patients, the limited resources should be allocated based on the following criteria considered together:
The League believes that in order to accomplish appropriate reform and implement a comprehensive health care system, the process must assure opportunities for citizen participation, and be open, accountable, representative and responsive at every level.
Kappy Eaton of Eugene was honored by Bill Bradbury, Oregon Secretary of State, who presented her the Medallion Award of the National Association of Secretaries of State at a meeting of County Clerks in August. Kappy is the first recipient of the Medallion Award in Oregon.
The Medallion Award recognizes individuals, groups or organizations who promote:
Currently Kappy serves on the state’s Help America Vote Act Steering Committee (HAVA) and the Election Division Advisory Committee for Electronic Campaign Funds Reporting and is co-chair of the Adult Mental Health Services Advisory Committee of Oregon Division of Addiction and Mental Health Services. In 1994 Kappy helped draft the successful campaign finance reform initiative measure, limiting contributions. She was chief petitioner for Public Funding for Legislative Campaigns initiative measure in 2000. She chaired the League’s studies on the Initiative and Referendum and on Election Reform. She is the Governance coordinator for the LWVOR Action committee following legislation on fiscal policy, elections and initiative reform, ethics, mental health and women’s issues.
Kappy was twice the Lane County League president and served as LWVOR president from 1991-1993.
Congratulations, Kappy.
This is kind of like looking for a needle in a haystack, but it’s too good an opportunity to overlook.
IF you have an IRA that you must soon close, and
IF you would like to make a sizable contribution to LWV, and
IF you would like to avoid the income taxes due when you close the IRA, and
IF you are at least 70.5 years old, and
IF you can do this in this calendar year
YOU can donate the IRA directly to a qualified non-profit organization and pay no federal income tax on the interest. (See information on Penalty Protection Act below.)
The LWVOR Education Fund is fully qualified to receive such a donation. For more information, contact Jean Milgram, LWVOR Development Chair, c/o lwvor@lwvor.org or 503-581-5722
Charitable IRA Donations
The Pension Protection Act allows taxpayers over 70.5 years old to donate money to charity directly from their IRA account. The distributions will be tax-free and avoid the penalty on early withdrawals. Taxpayers are allowed to donate up to $100,000 per year from their IRA. Since the distribution will not be included in taxable income, individuals will not be able to claim a tax deduction for the charitable contribution. This provision will be effective for the years 2006 and 2007 only.
From July 29 to August 4, 2007, the Marion-Polk League hosted five women leaders from Ukraine in a program sponsored by LWVUS and Open World. Sandra Gangle was the Coordinator and Gene Gangle was driver of the 12-passenger van that took the group to many locations during the week-long visit. League members who hosted the guests were Sally Hollemon, Anita Owen and Sandra Gangle. The Ukrainian guests included Oksana Grytsenko, Chief Legal Adviser to the President of Ukraine, Svitlana Yasynska, specialist on gender policy for the District of Kherson, Nataliya Martynenko, President of the League of Professional Women and Olga Parasotska, Executive of a non-profit organization that works to establish cross-border collaboration between Ukraine, Belarus and Poland. Their facilitator, Halyna Kaluzhna, is a professor of English at Kiev University.
The week-long activities included meetings with Mayor Janet Taylor and Assistant City Manager Linda Norris of Salem, Supreme Court Justice Virginia Linder, Director of Affirmative Action for Oregon Peggy Ross, State Rep. Brian Clem, Secretary of State Bill Bradbury, Polk County Commissioner Ron Dodge, Circuit Court Judges Pam Abernethy and Charles Luukinnen and Marion County Clerk Bill Burgess. We visited non-profit organizations, including the YWCA, Simonka House Women’s and Children’s Shelter and Colonia Libertad Farmworker Housing Project. Our guests toured private sector businesses, including Puentes Brothers Don Pancho Foods and Garten Foundation Re-Cycling, and had the opportunity to see some of Oregon’s scenic and historic sites as well.
The Farewell Banquet for our Ukrainian visitors took place on the historic Willamette Sternwheeler tour boat. Everyone was in good spirits after a very busy week. The Ukrainian guests were sorry to say good-bye to the many League friends they had made during their visit to our greater Salem community.
Those included Rose Lewis and Jean Sherbeck, who each hosted a lunch at her home, Lois Nuss, who arranged several tours and speakers, Diana Bodtker, who gave presentations at Chemeketa Community College and the Salem YWCA, Jeanine Grater, who served as tour guide at several Salem sites, and Cindy Burgess, who assisted with publicity.
Our Ukrainian guests gave a public presentation to an audience of fifty at the Salem Public Library Anderson Room. The following is a brief summary of their presentation:
Oksana Grytsenko said that the country’s Orange Revolution demonstrated that Ukrainians respect the right of individuals to freedom. She quoted George Washington, who said that, when freedom takes root, it can’t be stopped. Oksana said that Ukrainians have become confident in their future as part of a democratic Europe.
Halyna Kaluzhna added that Ukraine became independent on August 24, 1991 and the nation celebrates its Independence Day each August 24th. Ukraine is the largest nation in Europe (not counting Russia, much of which is in Asia).
Nataliya Martynenko said that Ukraine is a highly developed scientific and industrial country. Major industries are steel, coal, chemicals, machine building, agriculture and processed foods. The nation’s economy is changing from being controlled by the state to becoming a market economy. Along with that, the tax and budget system is being reformed.
Olga Parasotska said that the cross-border center for which she works is part of a network. The intention of the network is to modernize transportation, develop environmental protection systems, develop tourism, and develop human capital and institutional cooperation between Ukraine and its neighbors.
Svitlana Yasynska stated that Ukraine is new to considering gender issues. The first bill on equality for women went before the Parliament in 1983 and was finally adopted in 2005. A current issue is that women want equal representation in Parliament so Svitlana’s organization is providing education to leaders of the many political parties as they each make up their list of candidates to Parliament (and other offices). Their goal is to include women and men who support social issues, such as education and services for children and adults. Her group also educates voters on the importance of equal representation of women and men in Parliament.
What is the public’s interest level in the Voters’ Guides?
Who is our target audience or audiences?
What versions of the Voters’ Guides work best?
What distribution models work best and are most cost effective for reaching our target audiences for each of these publications?
Who is and might be interested our studies?
What other approaches could be used to disseminate the study information to the target audience?
As electronic technology revolutionizes communication, media of all types are struggling to keep up, pare down, revise, get ahead of the curve, improvise, meet the challenge... do whatever it takes to reach those who want their products.
The LWVOR Education Fund faces the same dilemma. We have been largely depending on the paper and print media for disseminating our Voters' Guides and educational publications. Not only are they getting more and more expensive to produce and distribute, but it has become clear that we are not adapting to the new methods of sharing information.
The LWVOREF Board of Trustees discussed this issue at length at the board retreat and appointed an ad hoc committee to recommend possible remedies. They agreed to enter into a contract with an evaluation consultant to help us answer the questions above.
Elaine Cogan of Cogan Owens Cogan, was chosen for this task because she is not only a successful and well-known professional in the area of strategic planning but also an experienced LWVOR member. Marge Easley, Janet Calvert, Jean Milgram, LWVOREF Trustees, and Carol Cushman, president of the Portland League met with Cogan in August to refine the scope of the study.
As a preliminary step, Cogan will ask local League presidents to complete a short, electronic questionnaire about their League’s experience with Voter Education materials. It is crucial for the success of this evaluation for presidents to give their candid opinions. League members’ input, whether or not it is explicitly sought during the study, is most welcome.
The interviews, focus groups, compilation of data, and other research will lead to recommendations that will affect our decisions on the production and dissemination of Voters’ Guides and also how we market and distribute our studies.
It’s always fascinating to take a look back in time, so starting with this issue of the Voter we’re including brief excerpts from More Power Than We Knew, a history of the League of Women Voters of Oregon from 1920 to 1995, by Mary Alice Moore and Donald E. Moore:
“Until 1926 the state League was supported by donations and dues, which were $1.00. (In January, 1925, the cash on hand was $39, and the board decided to open a checking account with a deposit of $11.) After the Portland League was organized, the Portland and Salem Leagues paid the state 50 cents per member and Portland shared its income from money-raising affairs – teas, bridge and mah jong parties, and lectures. By the end of 1927 the Portland League had grown to 200 members. Long-time Bulletin editor Hazel Carnes recalled in 1970 that the League was the “in thing” to belong to.
“In September, 1927,…the board made an effort to expand outside of Portland. They established a member-at-large category with $1.00 dues and wrote letter to friends and acquaintances all over the state….The Salem League had disbanded, but study groups were formed in Bend, Hood River, Parkdale, and the Dalles and in 1929, for the first time, a vice-president was elected from each of Oregon’s three congressional districts.”
The Election Methods Study, approved by the members at our recent convention, is off to a good start. Ably co-chaired by Mary Hepokoski and Janice Thompson, both members of the Portland League, the committee had its initial meeting on September 5th. League members are welcome and encouraged to join this study that will investigate such things as fusion voting, top-two open primary elections, instant runoff voting, and cumulative voting, among other voting options. These election methods will be researched with a view towards how they can promote League Principles, enhance the representation of the voters, and improve the accountability, responsibility and responsiveness of public officials to their constituents. Let the state office know if you wish to be notified of future committee meetings.
Our second state study – Water Resources – is having a more difficult time getting started. While members at convention were very enthusiastic about this topic, with many commenting that “water will be the issue of the 21st Century,” it is proving elusive to find a chair for this all-encompassing study. The scope is large and the time line adopted by the members does require a two and a half-year commitment. One current approach to the study divides it into five more bite-sized pieces – global warming, watershed councils, water resources, water quality, and development.
If you are interested in chairing, co-chairing or tri-chairing (is there such a word?) or serving on this committee, please let the state office know at lwvor@lwvor.org or 503-581-5722 or Janet Calvert or me. League members are correct – this is going to be a controversial topic for the 21st Century and the League needs to be ready.
In closing, I would like to remind members that the National Immigration Study, while not a state study, will be in your mailboxes soon and consensus on this timely study is due by February.
The current statistics on our statewide LWVOR membership are as follows: There are 1498 active members, including 208 national members. The top five local Leagues in our state account for 62 percent of our overall membership. Those Leagues are as follows: Portland (255), Lane County (236), Clackamas County (167), Corvallis (146) and Marion-Polk Counties (127). Please take a bow!!!
My goal as Membership Chair for the coming year is to encourage membership growth. I hope to see an increase of five percent, or at least 75 new members statewide. I hope every local league will meet the same percentage, adding at least five percent of its current membership number by May of 2008.
I intend to communicate by e-mail or telephone with all the local membership chairs, offering assistance with new ideas, including information from the LWVUS Membership Initiative for Recruitment and Retention. One of my main points will be to encourage all members to think about recruiting their neighbors, friends and acquaintances to consider League membership. Another will be to encourage experienced Leaguers to offer mentorship to new members. Personal contact works best when we are trying to build our organization and keep it active.
As we head into a new program year for the League of Women Voters, we have the opportunity to continue and expand our work, to truly make a difference in our communities throughout the state. Building on the three excellent recently-completed state studies (on Homeless Youth, Redistricting, and the Judiciary), and moving ahead with two new state studies (on Water Resources of Oregon and Election Methods), we are in a good position to inspire current members who may be inactive, and reach out to prospective new members. Recently I have been excited to meet several active young women who were surprised and pleased to learn about the wide variety of work the League does.
As Local League Liaison Coordinator, I want to find ways to be helpful and supportive - to the local groups and to individual members. If there are some members at a distance from a local League, maybe I can help explore ways to start a new group.
The League is an exciting organization, with many opportunities for us to learn and grow and be effective. Whether we are engaging in small group discussions at Unit meetings, taking in important new information at general meetings, or helping educate the public in Voter Service activities, the League has a lot to offer. Doing important work with stimulating, knowledgeable, active people is energizing for me. Key to our success, I believe, is having fun - everyone should be enjoying what they are doing. If our League work becomes a chore or a burden, we will burn out. That is what the Awesome Aunties songs we presented at convention are all about - celebrating the important work we do with some spoof and humor. I had fun making up the words, and will be happy to share them with anyone interested.
October 6 - Fall Workshop, Eugene
October 12 - LWVOR/EF Board meeting, Coos Bay
October 16 - Voter Registration deadline
October 19-23 - Ballots mailed to voters
November 6 - SPECIAL ELECTION
November 9 - LWVOR/Education Fund Board meeting
November 17 - Action workshop (tentative)
First United Methodist Church, 1376 Olive Street, Eugene
Saturday, October 6, 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Agenda
9:30 Registration, networking, coffee, etc.
10:00 Welcome and introductory remarks
10:15 Energizing our Local Leagues: Membership Recruitment Ideas that Really Work
11:00 Break
11:15 “Water, Water Everywhere”: A Water Study Preview
12:15 Lunch
1:00 Measure 49: Getting Ready for the November Election - Senator Floyd Prozanski
1:30 Measure 50: Pros and Cons
2:00 Break
2:10 A Forum to Share League Success Stories and Ideas
2:50 Wrap-up and Evaluation
ALL LEAGUE MEMBERS ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND
Bring a guest!
Registration for LWVOR Fall Workshop – DUE SEPTEMBER 26, 2007 – Print and mail this portion
Name(s): ______________________________________________________________________
League: ______________________________________________
Address (nonmembers only): ______________________________________________________
Payment is enclosed (includes coffee, pastries, lunch and hand‐outs). Please make checks
payable to LWVOR:
____$17.50 for League members
____$20.00 for guests
____I prefer a vegetarian lunch
Mail to: League of Women Voters of Oregon, 1330 12th Street SE, Suite 200, Salem, Oregon
97302 by Sept. 26, 2007. Questions? Contact Rebecca at lwvor@lwvor.org or 503‐581‐5722.
Map and directions are available on www.lwvor.org Members Site. Login in with username “lwvor” and password “carriecatt”. Go to “Events” for link.
Officers |
Marge Easley, President |
Norman Turrill, 1st VP/Action |
Jean Milgram, 2nd VP/Development |
Kate Culbertson, Secretary |
Al Wilson, Treasurer |
Directors |
Deanie Anderson |
Off Board Chairs |
Libby Medley, Budget |
Paula Krane, Nom. Committee Chair |
| Sue Boyd, Voter Editor |
LWVOR Staff |
Rebecca Smith, Executive Administrator |
Kathy Greysmith, Office Assistant |
Send address changes to: |
LWVOR |
1330 12th St. SE, Suite 200 |
Salem, OR 97302 |
E-mail: lwvor@lwvor.org |
URL: www.lwvor.org |
Voter |
is published four times a year by the League of Women Voters of Oregon. Members subscribe through their annual dues. Any person, 18 or older, may join. Voter is also available on the LWVOR website at www.lwvor.org. |
LWVOR MissionThe League of Women Voters ® of Oregon is a grassroots, nonpartisan political organization which encourages informed and active participation in government in order to build better communities statewide. The state League’s purposes are to influence public policy through education and advocacy and to provide support for League members and the League organization. |