LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF ELKHART COUNTY
 LOCAL PROGRAM 2007 - 2008

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE LWVEC RETAIN AS CONTINUING RESPONSIBILITIES THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS:

* Position on Annexation Policies and Procedures in Elkhart County

The LWVEC believes that the approval by a majority of the property owners in a proposed annexation area should not be required before the area can be added to a city. Indiana should not have annexation laws which pertain to only one county.

* Position on Child Sexual Abuse in Elkhart County

There should be a treatment program in Elkhart County for victims, perpetrators and/or affected families involved in child sexual abuse. CSATP of Santa Clara, CA should be used as a guideline. Professionals involved should receive special training in the area of child sexual abuse. Mandatory treatment should be used in conjunction with plea bargaining.

* Position on the Voting Machine System in Elkhart County

Elkhart County should replace the punchcard voting system. Elkhart County officials should begin immediately to examine other voting systems certified by the state of Indiana. Training for all election workers in Elkhart County should be mandatory.

* Position on Battered Women in Elkhart County

The League of Women Voters of Elkhart County supports a shelter facility in Elkhart County for battered women. The facility should be professionally staffed and incorporate a program commensurate with the problems of battered women. The LWVEC supports ongoing training programs for police who respond to domestic violence calls. Statistics should be maintained by all agencies.

* Position on Juvenile Detention Facilities and Court Procedures in Elkhart County

The League of Women Voters of Elkhart County supports an expanded and improved probation program, extended use of existing community social services and agencies, and the creation of adequate detention and shelter care facilities.

* Position on Home Health Care Services in Elkhart County

Home Health Care Services in Elkhart County should be expanded to include homemaker services, live-in attendants, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists. The State Board of Health should set standards for allied caregivers. Gaps in community health care which need to be addressed by the County Health Department include transportation, home maintenance, and help for single-parent families in times of illness.

PUBLIC POLICY POSITIONS
League of Women Voters of the United States
 

REPRESENTATIVE
GOVERNMENT
Promote an open governmental system that is representative, accountable and responsive.
Voting Rights
Citizen's Right to Vote. Protect the right of all citizens to vote; encourage all citizens to vote.
DC Self-Government and Full Voting Representation. Secure for the citizens of the District of Columbia the rights of self-government and full voting representation in both houses of Congress.
Election Process
Apportionment. Support apportionment of congressional districts and elected legislative bodies at all levels of government based substantially on population.
Campaign Finance. Improve methods of financing political campaigns in order to ensure the public's right to know, combat corruption and undue influence, enable candidates to compete more equitably for public office and promote citizen participation in the political process.
Election of the President. Promote the election of the President and Vice-President by direct popular vote and work to abolish the electoral college; support uniform national voting qualifications and procedures for presidential elections.
Citizen Rights
Citizen's Right to Know/Citizen Participation.
Protect the citizen's right to know and facilitate citizen participation in government decision making.
Individual Liberties. Oppose major threats to basic constitutional right.
Public Policy on Reproductive Choices. Protect the constitutional right of privacy of the individual to make reproductive choices.
Congress and the Presidency
Congress. Support responsive legislative processes characterized by accountability, representativeness, decision-making capability and effective performance.
The Presidency. Promote a dynamic balance of power between the executive and legislative branches within the framework set by the Constitution.

INTERNATIONAL
RELATIONS
Promote peace in an interdependent world by working cooperatively with other nations and strengthening international organizations.
United Nations
Support measures to strengthen the United Nations, in recognition of the need for cooperation among nations in an interdependent world.
Trade
Support systematic reduction of tariff and nontariff trade barriers and support broad long-range presidential authority to negotiate trade agreements.
U.S. Relations with Developing Countries
Promote U.S. policies that meet long-term social and economic needs of developing countries.
Arms Control
Reduce the risk of war through support of arms control measures.
Military Policy and Defense Spending
Work to limit reliance on military force.  Examine defense spending in the context of total national needs.

NATURAL RESOURCES
Promote an environment beneficial to life through the protection and wise management of natural resources in the public interest.
Natural Resources
Promote the management of natural resources as interrelated parts of life-supporting ecosystems.
Resource Management
Promote resource conservation, stewardship and long-range planning, with the responsibility for managing natural resources shared by all levels of government.
 

   Environmental Protection and Pollution Control
Preserve the physical, chemical and biological integrity of the ecosystem, with maximum protection of public health and the environment.
Air Quality. Promote measures to reduce pollution from mobile and stationary sources.
Energy. Support environmentally sound policies that reduce energy growth rates, emphasize energy conservation and encourage the use of renewable resources.
Land Use. Promote policies that manage land as a finite resource and that incorporate principles of stewardship.
Water Resources. Support measures to reduce pollution in order to protect surface water, groundwater and drinking water.
Waste Management. Promote policies to reduce the generation and promote the reuse and recycling of solid and hazardous wastes.
Nuclear Issues. Promote the maximum protection of public health and safety and the environment.
Public Participation
Promote public understanding and participation in decision making as essential elements of responsible and responsive management of our natural resources.
Agricultural Policy
Promote adequate supplies of food and fiber at reasonable prices to consumers and support economically viable farms, environmentally sound farm practices and increased reliance on the free market.

SOCIAL POLICY
Secure equal rights and equal opportunity for all. Promote social and economic justice and the health and safety of all Americans.
Equality of Opportunity
Equal Rights. Support ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment and efforts to bring laws into compliance with the goals of the ERA.
Education, Employment, Housing. Support equal access to education, employment and housing.
Fiscal Policy
Tax Policy. Support adequate and flexible funding of federal government programs through an equitable tax system that is progressive overall and that relies primarily on a broad-based income tax.
Federal Deficit. Promote responsible deficit policies.
Funding of Entitlements. Support a federal role in providing mandatory, universal, old-age, survivors, disability and health insurance.
Health Care
Promote a health care system for the United States that provides access to a basic level of quality care for all U.S. residents and controls health care costs.
Meeting Basic Human Needs
Support programs and policies to prevent or reduce poverty and to promote self-sufficiency for individuals and families.
Income Assistance. Support income assistance programs, based on need, that provide decent, adequate standards for food, clothing and shelter.
Support Services. Provide for essential support services.
Housing Supply. Support policies to provide a decent home and a suitable living environment for every American family.
Child Care
Support programs and policies to expand the supply of affordable, quality child care for all who need it.
Early Intervention for Children At Risk
Support policies and programs that promote the well-being, development and safety of all children.
Violence Prevention
Support violence prevention programs in communities.
Gun control
Protect the health and safety of citizens through limiting the accessibility and regulating the ownership of handguns and semi-automatic weapons. Support regulation of firearms for consumer safety.
Urban Policy
Promote the economic health of cities and improve the quality of urban life.