League Of Women Voters Of Philadelphia

Welcome!

2006 Legislative Interviews

The League of Women Voters of Abington-Cheltenham-Jenkintown

co-sponsors with Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce

INTERVIEWS WITH OUR STATE

LEGISLATORS

PA State Senator

LeAnna WASHINGTON (4th District)

and

PA State Representatives

JOSH SHAPIRO (153rd District)

LAWRENCE CURRY (154th District)

Thursday, January 26, 2006 7:30 p.m.

Abington Township Building, 1176 Old York Rd.

(Entrance via Horace Ave.)

Hear from your State Legislators and let them hear from you

2006 Legislative Interview Questions

For further info: Call LWV-ACJ at 215-887-2832 or

EMCCC at 215-887-5122

Congressman Chaka Fattah is the Keynote Speaker at the 2005 LWV Philadelphia Annual Meeting

By Kaye Deppe

Congressman Chaka Fattah (D, PA) was the keynote speaker at the Annual Meeting of the League of Women Voters of Philadelphia on May 21, 2005. The topic was social security reform which resulted in a lively discussion. Congressman Fattah stated that social security was created to address the large number of senior citizens who were living in poverty and that there was nothing more important than preserving social security. He went on to state that individuals can’t count on pensions as evidenced by recent corporate bankruptcy filings by companies such as United Airlines. Congressman Fattah stated that in Philadelphia alone, senior citizens receive monthly social security checks totaling $500 million. In addition, social security does not just benefit senior citizens. In Philadelphia schools, 1 out of 16 children receive benefits.

Vanessa Abernathy, LWV Philadelphia President, greets Congressman Fattah at our 2005 Annual Meeting. Congressman Fattah leads a lively discussion with League members on the subject of Social Security.

The social security fund will be in a strong position until 2042. At that time, it will have funds to cover 73% of benefits and will be stressed. Although changes will need to be made to the social security program, Congressman Fattah stated that he was opposed to personal accounts since they would drain funds from the trust fund and not solve the long term solvency issue. Previous changes to the program included small changes in age for eligibility (i.e. children only receive benefits until age 18 instead of 21) and 2) individuals pay more in to the fund. He stated that a combination of changes should be looked at such as 1) the Government should stop borrowing from the fund and 2) the cap on income subject to the tax should be raised or eliminated. However, he stated that it is important not to change to program to one just for the poor. Social security has always had broad support because it benefits everyone.

Congressman Fattah also addressed statements made by various politicians and individuals that the funds borrowed from the social security trust fund are worthless IOU’s. He pointed out that the funds have been used to purchase U.S. Treasury notes and that the 14 th Amendment to the Constitution requires the Government to repay it’s debts. Nothwithstanding this point however, Congressman Fattah expressed concern about increasing federal debt. The tax cuts pushed through by the current adminstration total $1.7 trillion in the 1 st 5 years and then explode in the next 5 years to $4.8 trillion. He pointed out that the central banks in China and South Korea have already expressed concerns about the high level of U.S. debt.

League of Women Voters of Philadelphia Sponsors "Take Your Child to Vote Day"

On Saturday March 27th at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, the League of Women Voters of Philadelphia invites you to bring your child to learn how to vote using an actual voting booth! (free to the public) If you are 18, the League will also be registering people to vote in the National Constitution Center Lobby. More...

Meet the Women of Philadelphia City Council

The League of Women Voters of Philadelphia invites you to celebrate women's history month on Tuesday March 30th from 6:30-8:30 pm at Temple University's Kiva Auditorium in Ritter Hall at 13th and Montgomery Streets. Come meet your elected officials and learn about the role of City Council by attending a moderated panel discussion with: Council President Anna Verna and Councilwomen Jannie Blackwell, Donna Reed-Miller, Blondell Reynolds-Brown, and Marian Tasco. Seating is limited. More...

March is Women's History Month!

March is the perfect time to remember the great milestones in American Suffrage and honor the women who achieved them.

1848: Convention at Seneca Falls, NY where 68 women and 32 men signed the Declaration of Sentiments, including the first formal demand for women's suffrage.
1867: Kansas puts first woman suffrage proposal on ballot. It failed.
1868: The first federal woman suffrage amendment is introduced in Congress.
1869: The National Woman Suffrage Association is founded to achieve the vote through congressional amendment. The American Woman Suffrage Association is founded to promote suffrage by amending state constitutions.
1872: Susan B. Anthony is arrested in New York for casting a ballot along with 15 other women. She is found guilty and fined $100. She refuses to pay.
1878: A suffrage amendment to the US Constitution is drafted by Susan B. Anthony and introduced in Congress. The wording was unchanged until it was finally passed 41 years later.
1887: Kansas women could vote in municipal elections. Within a few years, they are elected to local offices, such as city councils and mayoralties.
1890: The two suffrage organizations merge to become the National American Woman Suffrage Association headed by Elizabeth Cady Stanton who was later succeeded by Susan B. Anthony and Carrie Chapman Catt.
1913: Alice Paul founds the National Woman's Party (NWP) to take a more direct action approach (more militant in the British style).
1917: Jeannette Rankin is the first woman elected to Congress as a representative from Montana. The NWP pickets the White House and six months later, arrests were made. Inhumane treatment and hunger strikes force the suffragettes' release several months later.
1919: On May 21, the House of Representatives passes the woman suffrage amendment. On June 4, the Senate passes the amendment with only 2 votes to spare. It was sent to the states for ratification.
1920: On February 14th, the National American Woman Suffrage Association becomes the League of Women Voters, under the leadership of Carrie Chapman Catt. On August 18, the Tennessee legislature becames the last state needed for ratification when a wavering legislator voted as his mother had requested. On August 26th, the 19th Amendment was signed into law. The amendment reads as follows: "The right of citizens to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."
1931: Hattie Caraway became the first woman to serve in the U.S. Senate, appointed to fill the uncompleted term of her husband, Thaddeus, as Senator from Arkansas.

Read the latest issue of the League of Women Voters of the U.S. Newsletter: LeaguE-Voice

Commemorate the Anniversary of Roe V. Wade

January 22, 2004 marks the 31st anniversary of Roe V. Wade, the Supreme Court's landmark decision that constitutionally guarantees a woman's reproductive freedom. The League of Women Voters celebrates the anniversary of this decision, as it has led to enormous advances in women's rights, health, and safety. More...

NH and Iowa hold Mock Primary and Caucus

Throughout January 2004, students in New Hampshire and Iowa will participate in the first-ever statewide mock primary and caucus. The events are part of the National Student/Parent Mock Election project, of which the League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS) is a partner. "This is an excellent opportunity to involve our nation's youngest citizens in the election process," said Kay J. Maxwell, President, LWVUS. "In just a few years, these students will be casting real ballots and, thanks to projects like this, they will have a political awareness and understanding of elections that will remain with them throughout their lives," Maxwell added. The New Hampshire mock primary election will be held January 12 - 23, 2004, with the final results being announced at a gala event on the evening of January 23rd. The Iowa schools voted January 12-14 and the results were announced on January 15th. More...

League Works to Bring out the Vote

This Election Day, members of the Philadelphia League of Women Voters worked at the polls, in schools, and on a Election Day Hotline to ensure that Philadelphians had the ability to participate in a fair election. League members staffed phones at WHYY headquarters, answering questions about where to vote and how to vote, and acting as a center for citizens to report fraud or intimidation at the polls. More...

A Letter from the Desk of Philadelphia League President: Regional Cooperation is Key to the Success of the LWV

Heidi J. Gold, President, League of Women Voters of Philadelphia

Much like the relationship that exists among the five county governments in Southeastern Pennsylvania, the League of Women Voters also practices regional cooperation. Members of the League of Women Voters from Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties gathered October 25 for the LWV Southeastern Pennsylvania Region (SEPR) Leadership Training Conference. More...

League Holds 12th Annual Tribute Reception

The League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania Citizen Education Fund held its 12th Annual Civic Leadership Reception on Thursday, October 23rd at PNC Bank in Philadelphia. The Reception celebrates achievement and leadership in building stronger communities and keeping democracy strong. More...

Philadelphia League Registers New Voters

Ruth Ezekiel, LWV-Philadelphia

For the last two years our League has been a member of the Philadelphians United to Support Public Schools coalition. I am currently serving as the League delegate to that group. Last Spring it was decided that we should attempt to hold voter registration assemblies in all of Philadelphia's high schools. Since I am familiar with setting up voter registration drives I was the lucky person selected to arrange for registrars at each of the locations. This fall the League held registrations and assemblies at 11 schools. More...

Victory! Election Reform Funding Voted in Senate

On Thursday, October 23, the Senate passed an amendment to the Transportation and Treasury appropriations bill that funds the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). The amendment, introduced by Senators Christopher Dodd (D CT) and Mitch McConnell (R KY), provides the funds necessary to assist states in meeting the requirements of HAVA through 2004. Congratulations to all who made a call, sent an e-mail, forwarded an action alert to a friend or wrote a letter! More...

Join Us!

The LWV of Philadelphia exists through the money and time of its members. A printable membership form is available.

The League Provides Election Oversight Services

We oversee elections for the Philadelphia Housing Authority's tenant council elections, and we can oversee elections for any organization or business. Contact Barbara Dietrich for more information, 215-848-2762.