ADVOCACY REPORT 2011-2012 January 2013 Dear LWVMI Member: This report highlights the advocacy activities of the League of Women Voters of Michigan during the 2011-2012 legislative session. Thanks to the hard work of the LWVMI Advocacy Committee and Board of Directors who made this possible. The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan political organization. We do not support or oppose political parties or candidates. The League does: Encourage informed and active participation in government Work to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and Influence public policy through education and advocacy. The League of Women Voters has two arms. One is an educational, tax-exempt organization that provides information on candidates and issues to voters as well as information about election and government to citizens. The other is the advocacy arm. While the League does not support or oppose candidates or parties, we do take positions on issues we have studied. The members of the League of Women Voters of Michigan have adopted positions on seventeen state governmental issues. The League uses these positions, as well as those adopted at the national League to take action at the state level. LWVMI and LWVUS positions are listed on each website. A list of legislation that LWVMI has taken positions on during the two-year legislative session is in this document, as well as the voting records for the MI Senators and Representatives on legislation LWVMI opposed or supported. We are passionate advocates – women and men-who work to influence public policy on these issues by testifying at legislative committee meetings, meeting with individual legislators and other state officials, and urging League members to contact their legislators. For more information about how to take action in the league, please see the handout “Take Action in the League” in the member resource section of our web site www.lwvmi.org. Sincerely, Susan K Smith President 1 3,482 bills were introduced during the 2011-2012 legislative session; based on Of the 66 bills that LWVMI took action LWV positions LWVMI took on in 2011-2012: action on 66 bills. 8 supported bills became law LWVMI President Sue Smith testified at more than 14 19 opposed bills became law committee hearings in 2011-2012; attended many more 7 opposed bills were vetoed ( 2 of committee meetings; and sent over 50 letters to elected which later became law) officials. 32 died at the end of session LWVMI initiated over 30 action alerts in 2011-2012 in order for LWVMI members to take action. There were 6 ballot issues for the 2095 House Bills and 1387 Senate bills were introduced. November 2012 election, LWVMI took 323 bills were signed into law in 2011; 2 bills were vetoed. positions on 3 of them: 625 were signed into law in 2012; 7 bills were vetoed. The Legislature enrolled 289 bills during lame-duck session. (11/8/12 - 12:1 – Emergency Manager – LWVMI 12/13/12) opposed – not passed by voters In 2011, the Michigan Senators cast 844 roll call votes in 101 session 12:3 – Renewable Energy – LWVMI days; and the Representatives cast 619 roll call votes in 104 session supported – not passed by voters days. 12:5 – 2/3 Vote to Raise Taxes – LWVMI In 2012, Michigan Senators cast 1,095 roll call votes during the 82 opposed – not passed by voters session days; and Representatives cast 913 roll call votes during the 85 session days. 2 HIGHLIGHTS OF LWVMI ADVOCACY IN 2011-2012 The LWVUS Board established the following as Legislative Priorities for 2012: 1) Voter Protection, 2) Campaign Finance Reform, 3) Environmental Defense and 4) Health Care Defense. In addition, these items were included on the LWVUS Watch List (Items on the Watch List will be acted upon if the opportunity arises for League action, it does not interfere with action on an LWVUS priority and it appears the LWVUS can make an impact). 1) Fair Taxation, 2) CEDAW (Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women), 3) UN Support and Immigration. Items on the Watch List will be acted upon if the opportunity arises for League action, it does not interfere with action on an LWVUS Priority and it appears the LWVUS can make an impact. The LWVMI Board of Directors established the following advocacy priorities: 1) LWVUS priorities; 2) LWVMI strategic plan priorities - campaign finance reform law, election law, judicial selection; 3) Member interest priorities- natural resources, pay equity and public school finance; and 4) When needed LWVMI will make appropriate shifts in priorities During the two years LWVMI’s Advocacy Committee met to review legislation and requests from LWV members or local leagues and recommended action on legislation to the LWVMI Board of Directors. Then based on what happened to legislation, LWVMI sent letters regarding our positions, attended hearings, gave testimony, issued action alerts and reported on our issues. The League of Women Voters of Michigan took positions on 77 issues during the 2011-2012 Michigan Legislative session. LWVMI took positions on 24 House Bills of which 11 LWV supported, 13 LWV opposed and 5 became laws (LWVMI supported 4; opposed 1) and 2 were vetoed (LWVMI opposed both); on 42 Senate Bills of which 12 LWV supported, 30 LWV opposed, 22 became law (LWV supported 4; opposed 18) and 5 were vetoed (LWVMI opposed 5, but 2 of these bills later became law). A list of the legislation is in Appendix 1. In the 2011-2012 legislative session, 2095 bills were introduced in the MI House of Representatives and 1387 bills were introduced in the Michigan Senate; 323 bills were signed into law in 2011, 2 were vetoed and 625 bills were signed into law in 2012, 7 were vetoed. The Legislature enrolled 289 bills in the period after the general election and when they left on December 13, lame-duck session. That is the most bills since 2004. In 2011, the Michigan senators cast 844 roll call votes in 101 session days; and the representatives cast 619 votes in 104 session days. In 2012, the Michigan senators cast 1,095 roll call votes during the 82 session days in session; and the representatives cast 913 roll call votes during the 85 session days. A list of record call votes on LWVMI bills is in Appendix 2. 3 Some of the accomplishments for Governor Snyder and the MI House of Representatives and Senate were to end the Michigan business tax and replace it with the corporate income tax with less revenue, to raise personal income taxes including changes in pension taxes and the reduction of the earned income tax credit, and to pass right to work, emergency manager law, and personal property tax legislation. The following areas highlight LWVMI’s advocacy in 2011 and 2012. GOVERNMENT Redistricting For the State Legislature and US House of Representatives: LWVMI supports the formation of an independent redistricting commission in lieu of the legislature as the primary redistricting body. Such a commission should afford equal representation to the major parties and provide for independent and diverse representation. This commission should be established through legislation and/or a constitutional amendment. Early in 2011, LWVMI testified at MI House and Senate committees about LWVMI’s position on redistricting. Legislation was passed and signed into law on August 24, 2011, PA 129 of 2011. Election Laws: LWVMI supports uniform ease and accessibility of voting with assurances of accuracy, security and voter privacy; fair and uniform party regulation; open primaries and a regional presidential primary; local officials having primary authority for elections, the principles of initiative, referendum and recall. On February 9, 2011, HB 4214 was introduced to establish a new program of emergency managers for units of government near bankruptcy. The bill was signed into law, PA 4 of 2011, on March 17, 2011 and took immediate effect. Groups immediately began efforts to place PA 4 before the voters for a referendum. Enough signatures were gathered and Proposal 12:1 failed that would make Public Act 4 the law. LWVMI was opposed to the provisions in PA 4 that took away the responsibilities of locally elected officials. However, during lame-duck the Legislature passed and Governor signed PA 436 of 2012 that gives four choices to communities facing financial difficulties including using an emergency manager. The law cannot face a referendum because it includes an appropriation. On October 12, 2012, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson and Republicans introduced a package of legislation in the House and Senate, SB 750-754 and HB 5058-5063. LWVMI supported the bills limiting the use of campaign funds, providing continuing education for county clerks and allowing poll workers from anywhere in the state. LWVMI opposed passage of the Secretary of State’s proposals to require a photo ID for an absentee ballot, to require registrar training and certification to do voter registration and to declare citizenship when voting. In July 2012, Governor Snyder vetoed HB 5061, SB 754, and SB 803 containing these provisions. In spite of the veto, Secretary of State Johnson continued to use a form declaring citizenship that was used by some clerks in the 2012 Presidential Primary and the August Primary. On October 5, 2012, U.S. District Court Judge Paul Borman ruled that the citizenship question could not be on the ballot in November. The injunction came in a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, the 4 Service Employees International Union, Ingham County Clerk Mike Bryanton and others. LWVMI also opposed this requirement. Secretary of State Ruth Johnson asked local clerks not to use the forms with the citizenship question.