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Date: 1/24/2020
Subject: Copy of LWVCO Board Briefings & Legislative Letter
From: Beth Hendrix



Board Briefings

NOTES FROM THE 1/11/2020 BOARD MEETING

Upcoming events:

  • Legislative Conference 2020 -- The final agenda is being fine-tuned for the 2020 Legislative Conference on Feb. 14, LWV's centennial birthday! The Conference will be held at the Denver Public Library Conference Center from 9:00-4:00 and will focus on 2020 priorities including the Census, Vision 2020 (Tabor reform) and legislation limiting recalls. Members and non-members are welcome, and the $45 registration includes lunch and birthday cake. Click here to register!
  • The 2020 Leader of Democracy Awards Celebration in August 2020 (final date TBA) will honor former Colorado State Senator Polly Baca, the first Latina elected to the Colorado Senate, nationally known activist and co-founder of National Council of La Raza; Lauren Casteel, inductee into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame and recognized activist for equity; and Elizabeth Piper Ensley (posthumous), the treasurer of the Colorado Non-Partisan Equal Suffrage Association that helped achieve the vote for women in Colorado in 1893. Stay tuned for more information about this celebratory extravaganza!
  • Many Leagues around the state are also organizing 100th Anniversary events and LWVCO staff are compiling them.  If your local league has an event planned, please be sure that we know about it -- email Jean McGuire or Cameron Manning.

Voter Service and Vote 411 – Gerry Cummins, Cath Perrone and the voter service team are working hard to make sure that voters in Colorado have the information they need to vote on candidates and legislation at the State and district levels. Three Statewide ballot issues are in the queue including participation in the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact (repeal initiative); citizenship qualification for electors (one word change in constitution) and reintroduction of gray wolves.  Look for additional news regarding potential Fall 2020 US Senate election forums.

 

LWVCO Strategy Implementation – The Board has worked hard to be sure that all aspects of the annual strategic planning are moving forward.  Areas of emphasis include internal and external communications, local League support, governance, technology improvement, fund development, investment strategy, voter services, and movement toward year-around advocacy. 

 

Financial Audit of LWVCO – a draft report on the financial audit of LWVCO has been provided to the Board. No substantial changes in processes were recommended, and the Treasurer and staff were congratulated on the level of care taken to manage the organization’s financial assets. 


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2019 Interim Committees and 2020 Session Opening

There were more interim committees in 2019 than in the past and they recommended lots of bills for the 2020 legislative session that have already been introduced within the first two weeks of the session opening.

 

As the 2020 session kicked off on January 8, Democrats and Republicans discussed priorities for their work in the General Assembly. Governor Polis outlined priorities in his State of the State Address on January 9.

 

Early childhood education, paid family and medical leave, opioid abuse, water resources, zero waste, death penalty, health care costs, teen suicide, regulation of oil and gas industry, READ MORE

 

Changes to the Legislative Letter

The Legislative Letter is published for members of the General Assembly, partner organizations, the media, and LWV members by the League of Women Voters of Colorado during regular sessions of the Colorado General Assembly. The Legislative Letter is a digital publication in 2020, a change from prior years. READ MORE 

 
Issues of Interest
Paid Family and Medical Leave

The United States does not have a federal paid family leave policy—the only industrialized nation in the world that does not mandate access to paid family leave, according to Colorado’s Family and Medical Leave Implementation (FAMLI) Task Force.  Some states have such policies, however, and for the last several years, lawmakers in Colorado have been attempting to develop a program here too. 

Paid family and medical leave would provide wage replacement and job protection to Coloradans who need to take time off to care for their own medical needs or to care for a family member.  This is a priority for both the Democrats in the General Assembly and for the Governor.  As of yet, no legislation has been introduced, but a bill is expected this session.  The 2020 session will mark the sixth year that attempts have been made to establish a program. Last year’s attempt—SB19-188—was amended from program development to a task force study charged with providing recommendations on program structure and implementation. 

In the past, opposition from the business community and concerns over the program’s cost have prevented it from becoming a reality.  These concerns will have to be balanced against providing protections for employees.

The FAMLI Task Force issued their analysis and recommendations on January 8.  The full report can be accessed here.

 

Bill Tracking

A list of all bills being followed by the League and an explanation of our position on each bill can be found here. 


Tax Check-Off

The 100th Anniversary of the League of Women Voters

February 14, 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the formation of the League of Women Voters, and LWVCO is ready to celebrate this national Day of Action! Proclamations are being read in our honor on the floor of the Colorado Legislature prior to the start of our Legislative Conference, which has a packed agenda of exciting speakers and topics. We’ll end the Conference with birthday cake and a toast to the next 100 years, and we’ll be given the US flag that flies over the Colorado Capitol in honor of our centennial.

 

Many local Leagues in Colorado are also organizing celebrations across the state; some have been planning for well over a year. Many are incorporating outreach activities to support the National Day of Action. Please share your events with LWVCO so we can include them in the state calendar and on social media.

 

Some Leaguers may ask: why are we spending so much time on celebrating the past when we have so much work ahead of us?  Here are a few reasons:

  1. Uncovering the history of the suffrage movement and the League of Women Voters allows us to see the full picture of the movement, including the successes and shortcomings. The 19th Amendment did not break down barriers for all women, and inclusion was not part of our foundation as a League. By reflecting on this history, we can commit to the future by embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all we do. We need to reflect the communities in which we live and serve.
  2. The 100th Anniversary gives us the opportunity to form partnerships with other organizations, for better policy results in 2020 and beyond. The threats against our democratic process are too great for League to tackle alone; we need partnerships with other groups aligned with our positions and priorities to make lasting progress. As the saying goes, “It is easier to row the boat when we all are rowing in the same direction.”
  3. Many of the voter disenfranchisement issues that the suffragists fought for 100 years ago are still with us today. Too many Americans are still denied the right to vote and have no voice in choosing their representatives. Too many government leaders favor restricting access to the polls, and gerrymandering is robbing power from our citizens. Looking at the struggles that women faced 100 years ago can bring new energy and determination into our work to empower voters and defend democracy.

Happy Anniversary to the League of Women Voters and a toast to all of you and the work you do!


League members get a 10% discount on course registration!

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Join LWVDenver as they partner with the Denver Women's Chorus for two concerts celebrating 100 years of suffrage!

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