December 2013 In League Reporter

IN LEAGUE REPORTER
THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF ST LOUIS
8706 Manchester Road, Suite 104,
St Louis, MO 63144
314.961.6869
www.facebook.com/lwvstl www.lwvstl.org
DECEMBER 2013
2013-2014 LWVSTL
BOARD of DIRECTORS
Co-Pres. Linda C McDaniel
Kathleen Farrell
1st V.P. Pat Jones
2nd V.P. Nancy Miller
3rd V.P. Vacant
Sec’y Ella Brown
Treas. Becky Clausen
DIRECTORS
Rosalie Brasch
Mickey Croyle
Eve Golden
Nancy Hutchins
Marty OƩ
Dianne Modrell
Sydell Shayer
Pat Soraghan
Catherine Stenger
Editor Nancy Miller
FEATURE ARTICLES
LEGISLATION 2014
1
PRESIDENTS’ MESSAGE 2
CITY-COUNTY GOVT. 2
GMO FARM POLICY
3
WINTER WONDERLAND 4
PLOWSHARES NIGHT
4
HOLIDAY LUNCHEON
5
LEARN AT LUNCH REP
6
HOUSING ELECTION REP 6
COMMITTEES
7
LEGISLATIVE RETREAT
8
MEMBER NEWS
9
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
9
CALENDAR
10
LEGISLATIVE ACTION COMMITTEE PLANS FOR 2014
The LWVMO Legislative Action Committee is formalizing plans for
the coming Legislative Session 2014. The League’s top priorities are under
consideration and will be presented to the LWVMO Board by early
December. Watch for our Legislative priorities in the Jan. ILR and MO Voter
(and possibly a Dec. Legislative Bulletin).
Legislative Priority Cards will be distributed to the members of the
General Assembly on Capitol Action Day. The scheduled date is Tuesday,
January 14th with snow make-up day January 2lst. Priority Card distribution
is a great opportunity for League members to be visible, meet/speak with
legislators, view House or Senate in session, or attend a hearing. AND
HAVE FUN!!! Each local League is encouraged to send some “helping
hands”. Mark the date.
Now, if this opportunity is not on your calendar, consider signing up to
be a League Corp Supporter. League members often testify in support/
opposition to a bill at a Hearing on short notice. We would like other League
members to be present, wearing League pins, at these Hearings to show
support of our position. Hearings are generally held early 8 am or noon, 1
pm, or later (Tues-Thurs). Hearings are usually posted a week in advance,
but are always subject to change. This is another Great Opportunity for
willing participates to sign up and be on call if needed in a short span of
time. We need to be prepared for the return of legislation on voter
suppression and tax cuts, and efforts to dismantle the Missouri NonPartisan Court Plan. Please consider being an advocate for the League in
doing what we do best, “Making Democracy Work”.
Watch for more information in the January ILR or for immediate info contact
Marty Ott ([email protected])
************************************************************************
To register for one or both activities, please complete this form and mail it to
LWVSTL, 8607 Manchester Road, St. Louis, MO 63144 or e-mail the
information to Marty Ott ([email protected]).
Name___________________________________________________________
Address_________________________________________________________
E-mail___________________________________________________________
Phone _________________________Cell phone________________________
Check choices:
Capitol Action Day, January 14_____
January 21(make up day)____
Legislative Corp Supporter _____
Volunteer Driver:
Yes____ No____
IN LEAGUE REPORTER
Page 2
Our New Year’s Resoluon: Making Democracy Work in Our Community
At our board meeting the other night we celebrated the League’s fall program. We had a
great Kickoff turnout to learn about GMO’s, the Theatre Party raised much needed funds for
our voter service programs, the November Lunch & Learn program on gun violence drew
members from the community as well as Leaguers and had rave reviews. We conducted
elections for the St. Louis Housing Authority at twelve polling sites, worked to defeat the
override of HB 253 which would have been devastating for Missouri taxpayers, and of course
registered hundreds or newly naturalized American citizens. We will top off the fall program
with our December 7th Holiday Lunch with an exciting speaker on the Affordable Care Act
and our annual children’s book donation for St. Louis County’s Circle of Concern and
St. Louis City’s 100 Neediest Cases. Come join us one and all and bring a guest or two.
The New Year’s challenges and opportunities for the League beckon. Pat Jones is working
with Sheryl Foster, our development consultant, on an exciting fundraiser—Trivia Night on
March 15th at Nerinx Hall in Webster Groves. Work on the first Voters Guide of 2014 begins
mid January. We already have a request for an August primary candidate forum.
Ballot initiatives are starting to circulate which will require a significant voter education
campaign.
We met this week with the St. County Board of Elections directors and deputy directs to
begin a collaboration to improve the election experience in our community. We continue to
push for Medicaid Expansion and are following the School Transfer Issue. The Education
Committee will be educating us on that issue in February.
We face so many challenges at the national, state and local level. Many of our fellow
citizens question whether their voices can be heard. The League knows that democracy can
work, but it will take the efforts of all of us to make that happen. Make your New Year’s
resolution to strengthen the League’s presence in our community. Work to stop voter
suppression, advocate in the Missouri Legislature to improve education, health care, fair and
progressive tax systems, and a court system that is not for sale. Work to educate voters
about candidates and ballot issues. Encourage friends and others who share our values to
join the League. Respond to Action Alerts and let your elected officials know your position
on critical issues. The only way to make a difference is to get involved.
Our best wishes to you and your families during the Holiday Season.
Linda C. McDaniel
Co-Presidents
Kathleen Farrell
BETTER TOGETHER - A NEW CITY-COUNTY INITIATIVE
Six League members attended the kick-off press conference for Better Together to find out what plans the
group has. Better Together is a project sponsored by the Missouri Council for a Better Economy and is
aimed at promoting economic growth in Missouri and especially in the St. Louis region.
Better Together’s board chairman, George Herbert Walker, as well as St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, and the project’s director, Nancy Rice, all emphasized that the purpose
of the project was not to promote a specific agenda but to gather relevant data to inform the debate on the
best ways for St. Louis City and County’s 116 governmental units to work together. They will be studying
the service delivery practices of the two counties, 91 municipalities and 23 fire protection districts that serve
the two-county area, identifying best practices for the delivery of those services as compared to current
practices, and identifying scenarios to improve effectiveness.
And the League will be watching.
Page 3
IN LEAGUE REPORTER
BRIEF REVIEW OF THE UNITED STATES AGRICULTURE POLICY AND FARM BILL
Pre-1920 US agricultural history was dominated by a policy directed at developing and
supporng family farms and the agricultural sector including land, research, and human
labor.
Legislaon such as the Land Act of 1820, Homestead Act and Morrill Act of 1862 iniated the
land grant college system that provided public support for agricultural research and educaon
and saw the establishment of Agricultural Programs at Cornell University and Penn State. In
1933 during the Great Depression, many farmers were losing money, President Roosevelt
signed the Agricultural Adjustment Act creang the Agricultural Adjustment Administraon
which worked to regulate agricultural producon by destroying crops and arficially reducing
supplies and offering subsidies to farmers to reduce crops. The Supreme Court struck down
the AAA and in 1938 the Soil and Conservaon Domesc Allotment Act was passed to
distribute farm subsidies. The end of World War I found Europe in economic crisis and closed
major export markets, resulng in the development of US price and income support: agricultural subsidy. United States agricultural policy began to become more and more comprehensive in reacon to falling grain prices and the widespread economic turmoil of the Dust Bowl
and Great Depression. A system of government-controlled agricultural commodity prices
grew. This pracce was eventually ended by the Federal Agriculture Improvement and
Reform Act of 1996. Agricultural financial support also increased through raised price
supports, export subsidies, increased crop insurance and expanding price supports to
different crops in the Agricultural Risk Protecon Act of 2000.
The early 1970’s saw a shi? to overproducon and farm consolidaon. The development of
agricultural corporaon and farm consolidaon saw the loss of the small family farms. Agricultural policy has favored farmers over the course of United States history because farmers
tend to have favorable proporonal polical representaon in government. The US Senate
tends to grant more power per person to inhabitants of rural states. Agricultural policy research is funded by the USDA and create an incenve for government intervenon to persist.
The US Agricultural Policy is composed primarily of the periodically renewed federal US Farm
Bill. Every five years, Congress passes a bundle of legislaon, commonly called the "Farm Bill"
that sets naonal agriculture, nutrion, conservaon, and forestry policy. The last Farm Bill
was passed in 2008, and expired in 2012. A paral extension was passed on January 1 to
extend several expired Farm Bill programs. The Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of
2013 passed the Senate with an overwhelming biparsan majority of 66-27 on June 10, 2013.
Agricultural policy of the US Government were addressed through various acts and programs
including:
Soil Bank Act 1956: soil conservaon
Naonal School Lunch Act of 1946: surplus crops as food aid
Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954
Food Stamp Act of 1964
Food Security Act of 1985: habitat conservaon
Organic food labeling in the Food, Agriculture, Conservaon and trade Act of 1990
Wet wildlife Habitat and Environmental Quality Incenve Programs 1996
Grassland Reserve Program 2002
Page 4
IN LEAGUE REPORTER
WINTER WONDERLAND: WORKERS WANTED!!
The League will be one of the organizaons that will staff the St. Louis
County Parks Winter Wonderland held at Tilles Park again this year. The League of
Women Voters Informaon Service will receive a check for $500 for our services
This year we have Sunday evening, December 8. Previously we had
Monday nights so we are looking forward to more traffic since we have a weekend
night this year. We will need 6 volunteers at all mes and will have two shi?s
from 5:00-7:30 p.m. and from 7:30-10:00 p.m.
It can be wet—it can be cold so dress warmly—but it is a fun event! Please
call Barbara Harris, our volunteer coordinator at
314.968.3609 or email at [email protected] to
let her know when you would like to volunteer
and we do thank you for your help.
This is a beauful display so be sure to let
all your friends know about it and what night
League volunteers will be working. As you leave,
workers have the opportunity to drive through
the park to enjoy this great display!
Becky Clausen & Julie Behrens
Event Co-ordinators
HOLIDAY SHOP AT PLOWSHARE CRAFTS ON DEC. 17TH AND HELP THE LEAGUE
Meet your League friends at Plowsharing Cra?s, 136 W Jefferson in historic
downtown Kirkwood on Tuesday, December 17th from 5-8pm to do your
holiday shopping. The store has a wonderful assortment of jewelry, clothing,
gi?s, accessories, musical instruments, food items, holiday decoraons, and
home décor all made by skilled individuals in developing countries all over the
world. Help them support themselves and support the League. We will receive
15% of the profits up to $1,500 in sales and 20% of profits above that.
This is the second year the
League has partnered with
Plowshare Cra?s in
Kirkwood. Meet friends to
shop and enjoy one of the
many eateries in downtown
Kirkwood. Good shopping,
good friends, good cause,
and a good way to get into
the holiday spirit.
Page 5
IN LEAGUE REPORTER
IN LEAGUE REPORTER
Page 6
LEARNING ABOUT GUN CONTROL
PRESENTED BY:
LEAGUE OF WOMEN
VOTERS &
MOMS DEMAND ACTION
FOR GUN SENSE IN
AMERICA
A lively group of over fi?y members and guests shared
lunch, listened to speakers, and parcipated in a discussion
at the first Learn at Lunch on November 11th. The event
was co-sponsored by Moms Demand Acon for Gun Sense
in America. Speakers included Melissa Brooks, a mom and
a cellist with the St. Louis Symphony for the last 24
years. She and Kim Selig founded the St. Louis chapter of Moms Demand Acon early this year.
Melissa has become a passionate acvist for sensible gun legislaon in both Missouri and at the
federal level. Melissa now serves as the Missouri Chapter Leader (a statewide office). Also
speaking was Becky Morgan, a mom and the House Manager for the St. Louis Repertory Theatre. Becky is the Communicaons Leader for the St. Louis Chapter of Moms. Dr. Robert Kennedy,
a physician in the emergency department at St. Louis Children's Hospital, lent his professional
experience to the need for gun control. Dr. Kennedy specializes in pediatric crical care and pediatric emergency medicine and was recognized as a Best Doctor in America in 2010 by St. Louis
Magazine. Dr. Kennedy is a vocal advocate for stricter gun policies and the educaon of family
members regarding gun usage.
Dixie Buford, Catherine Stenger & Pat Jones contributed to the arcle
HOUSING AUTHORITY ELECTIONS HELD
Twenty four League members parcipated in the St Louis Housing Department elecon on November 1st at 12 different housing sites. Each volunteer earned $50 for the League. We also
appreciate the member who contributed $50 in lieu of working.
This was the first me the elecon was held on Friday and the Housing Department said that it
was a successful change for staffing reasons. Another change is that the vote tabulaon was held
at the Housing Office on Page. No food was served which resulted in the final counts being
completed by 6:30 pm vs 8:30 pm on previous years.
A total of 492 votes were cast. The winners were James Murphy from LaSalle and Dan Menke
from Parkview. Of the top four candidates, the ballot counts were 94, 86, 85 and 83. Note that
the second and third candidates were only one vote apart and third and
fourth were two votes different. So we see that every vote counts!
The League thanks Carolyn Nolan, Barbara Harris, Jean Srenco, Susan
Williams, Nancy Hutchins, Gene Hutchins, Kathleen Farrell, Lori
Calcaterra, Carol Portman, Marilyn Werner, Billie Teneau, Sydell Shayer,
Ilene Horenstein, Judith Smart, Ken & BeOy Maag, Marj Courtney, Mary
Beth Reynolds. Esther Clark, Jim Clark, Clairborne Handleman, Rosalie
Brasch, Becky Clausen and Nancy Bowser.
Becky Clausen
Page 7
IN LEAGUE REPORTER
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE
We will meet at 7 pm at the League office on Tuesday, Dec. 10th. Topic: . Please
join us as we study this issue. For informaon call the office at 314.961.6869
Mickey Croyle, Chair
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE NEWS
The IR CommiOee had a very informave session in November where
members discussed Korean history, North and South. We also had a presentaon
on the Korean War. Our meeng in December is on Friday the 13th at the St Louis
County Library headquarters, with a change in the start me to 9 am; this me
change is for December only. December’s reports will cover the Korean economy
and Chrisanity on the
peninsula. Two books of
interest to the IR are The
Coldest Winter by David Halberstam (all you ever
wanted to know about the Korean War) and
Adam Johnson’s The Orphan Master’s Son.
Johnson recently won the Pulitzer Prize for this
highly recommended novel set in modern North
Korea. We are always looking for new members
for our commiOee and would be very happy to
see you.
Judith Smart, IR Chair
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
The Educaon CommiOee met on Sat. Nov. 16 and members gave very detailed reports about the
Student Transfer Policy currently under Missouri law. The reports included the legal status, its impact on
unaccredited school districts in St. Louis County, and what may or may not happen in resolving the
current situaon. More informaon will be available in the coming months a?er bill filings in December,
the General Assembly convening in early January, 2014, and recommendaons made by the Department
of Elementary and Secondary Educaon and other educaon associaons.
The commiOee is planning an informaon only presentaon at our February
Unit meengs.
The commiOee will not meet in December. Our next official meeng date is
January 18, 2014, 9:30 am at the League Office. Watch for more details in
the January ILR.
Marty OO
LWVSTL Educaon Chair
martyo [email protected]
HEALTH CARE COMMITTEE
We will not be meeng in DEC or JAN 2014. We will meet on February 12, 2014. the second
Wednesday in February (1:00 -3:00 pm at Faith Des Peres Presbyterian Church, 11155 Clayton
Road 63131) - hope to see you!
Dianne Modrell, Chair
314.439.9511 [email protected]
IN LEAGUE REPORTER
Page 8
Page 9
IN LEAGUE REPORTER
MEMBERSHIP UPDATES
New Members:
Jinny Danzer
18 Black Oak Dr.
St. Louis MO 63127-1302
Rejoined:
Betsy Enslin
711 S. Laclede Staon Rd. G101
St. Louis MO 63119-4911
Carole Gwyn
#5 Plum Run court
Festus MO 63028-4745
Nancy Van Dillen
5871 A Loran Ave.
St. Louis MO 63109-3131
Address Change:
Anne Harris
555 Couch Ave. Apt. 270
St Louis, MO 63122-5666
In Memory
Eleanor (Ellie) Wright passed away on November 13, 2013. Ellie was a member and supported the LWV for
over 60 years. We express our condolences to her husband, Jim and members of the family.
TRIBUTES & MEMORIALS
“In honor of Carol Portman and to express my gratude for her many years as voter registraon chair for
the League. Carol’s efforts in this capacity and in so many other ways have benefited the League and the
community.” This contribuon is from Lois Bliss and is designated for the League of Women Voters
Informaon Service.
VOLUNTEER CORNER
November and December are always busy months. Thanks to the following people who are always busy but sll find to help the League: Liz Aurbach, Steve Aylward,
Rosalie Brasch, Ella Brown, Esther Clark, Jim Clark, Becky Clausen, Marjorie Courtney,
Mickey Croyle, Sue Dellbringge, Kathleen Farrell, Agnes Garino, BeOy Ann Gilbert, Mickey
Hall, Barbara Harris, Rhoda Hochman, Debby Howard, Nancy Hutchins, Pat Jones,
Kathleen LoOenbach, Renate Lytle, Linda McDaniel, Nancy Miller, Cindy Mitchell, Dianne
Modrell, Carolyn Nolan, Marty OO, Mary Beth Reynolds, Sydell Shayer, Judith Smart, Pat Soraghan,
Catherine Stenger, Billie Teneau, K Wentzien, and Sue Williams. This list includes the St. Louis board
members so when you aOend a board meeng, please remember to sign the volunteer book in the office
so we can keep a good record of our volunteers’ hours.
Julie Behrens, Staff
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REFLECTIONS
Today is gray, windy and threatening rain. The Senate has gone “nuclear.” Spring seems very far
away. And yet, we are looking forward to new adventures like a Trivia Night fundraiser. We are gearing
up for our next Voters Guides and Candidate Forums with new insights, strategy and enthusiasm. Familiar
and new faces join our efforts in the office and throughout the community.
So, I am thankful for all of you and the opportunity to apply myself to some wonderful projects (indoors)
while waing for the days to lengthen once again. Stop by the office for a hot drink and a new challenge
to get you through the winter.
Anna Mennerick
DECEMBER 2013 CALENDAR
Sat. Dec 7
Sun Dec 8
11:30-2:00pm
5:00-10:00pm
Holiday Luncheon
Winter Wonderland
Crowne Plaza, Clayton
Tilles Park
Tues Dec 10
7:00pm
Environmental Quality Comm.
League Office
Fri
9:00am
International Relations Comm.
STL County Lib Headquarters
5:50-8:00pm
Plowshare Crafts Shopping
Downtown Kirkwood
Dec 13
Tues Dec 17
Tues Dec. 24– Wed Jan 1
OFFICE CLOSED FOR WINTER HOLIDAYS
LOOKING AHEAD
Sat Jan 11
9am-2:30pm
Legislative Retreat
Columbia, MO
Tues Jan 14
9am-3:00pm
Capitol Action Day
Jefferson City, MO
Units and Committees will resume in January
Sat March 15
Trivia Night
Nerinx Hall, Webster Groves