League of Women Voters of Kitsap

Founded by activists who secured voting rights for women, the League of Women Voters has always worked to promote the values and processes of representative government. The League believes in an open governmental system that is representative, accountable and responsive – one that assures opportunities for citizen participation in government decision-making.

Because of these deeply held convictions, League of Women Voters of WA led the opposition of the two charter school initiatives and the referendum in 1996, 2000 and 2004 that were rejected by the voters. And we oppose HB 2428 and SB 6202 for the following reasons:

• Private boards selected by non-profit corporations rather than publicly elected by citizens will govern charter schools. Voters will lose their right to elect representatives to oversee the spending of their taxes.
• Charter schools will be exempt from state statutes and rules applicable to school districts and boards, creating a separate and unequal school system even though Article IX of the Washington state Constitution requires a general and uniform system of public schools. *
• HB 2428 and SB 6202 will create additional administrative functions and costs for the State Board of Education, the Superintendent of Public Instruction and School Districts at a time when further cuts are proposed for K-12, and the Supreme Court has ruled in McCleary v. State that Washington is failing to provide ample funding for education. *
• There are many successful innovative and alternative schools as part of the public school system in Washington state. Let’s encourage them and work toward full funding rather than be distracted by charter schools that the voters have already rejected three times.

Further points:

* The Washington Supreme Court has stated that a common school is open “to all
children . . . free, and subject to, and under the control of, the qualified voters of the
school district.” (School Dist. No. 20 v. Bryan, 51 Wash. 498)
* Education Week’s Quality Counts report gave Washington an F grade in education
spending and ranked the state 42nd in per-pupil spending and 44th in expenditures
as a percent of state taxable resources.

Catherine Ahl
Education Chair, LWVWA

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The Legislature adjourned the special legislative session on Wednesday, December 14th. The Early Action Budget Bill (Substitute House Bill 2058) reduces the state budget shortfall by $480 million through a combination of cuts, fund transfers and a small amount of additional revenue from the sale of unclaimed property. The regular session begins on January 9, 2012 and legislators will continue work to close the remaining $1.5 billion budget gap.
PRIORITY ACTION ITEM
Budget Issues
During the week before Christmas, please take a minute to contact your legislators and the Governor about your budget concerns and your support for raising revenues to fill the budget holes. Strategies still under discussion include:
Increasing the sales tax by a small amount for a defined time period.
Securitization of bonds.
Closing tax loopholes.
Imposing a capital gains tax.
League Position: State Tax Policy Action to obtain a balanced tax structure that is fair, adequate, flexible and has a sound economic effect.
ACTION: Along with contacting your legislators and the Governor about the need to raise revenue, talk with your friends, neighbors, relatives— everyone—and ask them to also contact your legislators and the Governor with the same message. Legislators and the Governor need to hear from all of us!
LWVWA Contact: Pat Dickason, Action Chair, 360 753-7647

ACTION ITEM

Children and Family Issues
Washington State just won a $60 million federal Race to the Top early learning grant to improve child care and early learning. This grant depends on $1.3 million of state funding for the Child Care Resource and Referral Network. The Governor’s supplemental budget proposal eliminates this funding.
League Position: Action to improve and support child care quality and access for low-income families.
ACTION: Contact your legislators and the Governor before January 9th to request they support maintaining $1.3 million in state funds for this critical child care and early learning program.
LWVWA Contact: Margie Reeves; Karen Tvedt; Pat Dickason; Children and Family Portfolio

This is our last Legislative Newsletter for 2011. We’ll be back with more weekly Newsletters in January: your Lobby Team will work to keep you informed about League positions and legislative activities throughout the 2012 Session. We’ll recommend actions for you to take to support the League of Women Voters of Washington positions. Thanks for helping the League maintain its well-deserved reputation for thoughtful, reasoned legislative activities. Your Lobby Team appreciates your support.

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LWVWA 2012 Legislative Priorities

Strengthen Democracy
• Protect state funding that invests in programs to promote a more positive future for all citizens

Support Education, Early Learning, Families and Children
• Prevent further reduction of services and quality of public education
• Protect funding and programs to meet basic needs of families and children
• Promote policies and programs that promote the well-being and safety of all children
• Improve and support child care quality and access for low-income families

Improve Access to Health Care
• Ensure access for all residents to comprehensive, uniform, and affordable health services
• Use implementation of the Affordable Care Act to:

- Help maintain funding for public health

- Help maintain health coverage for low income populations

- Provide incentives for primary care doctors to work in under-served areas

Protect Natural Resources and Human Health
• Adopt effective programs to clean up and prevent pollutants from entering the state’s air, soil and water
• Reduce and eliminate toxic chemicals in children’s products quickly and effectively
• Continue to support increased fuel efficiency across all modes of transportation

For more information see www.lwvwa.org.

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The League of Women Voters of Kitsap will explore the federal role in public education at its next meeting, Wednesday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Eagles Nest, 1200 Fairgrounds Road, Bremerton.
A panel of local educators will be on hand to discuss the issues and answer questions. They are Greg Lynch, Superintendent, Central Kitsap School District; Kathryn Simpson, Board President, South Kitsap School District; Wayne Lindberg, Finance and Operations Director, Bremerton School District; and Chris Fraser, President, North Kitsap Education Association.
Please plan to attend and bring your questions. For example, has No Child Left Behind worked? Should the federal government mandate items as a condition for funding or should there be more equity and/or flexibility in funding? Should common standards, assessments and curriculum be required or voluntary in all states?
The gathering is free and open to the public. For information call (360) 697-7924.

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Election season is upon us, and the League of Women Voters of Kitsap will be holding four public forums in October to help voters get acquainted with candidates and issues on the November ballot.

Here’s the schedule:

Oct. 4: Bainbridge City Council Chambers
6:30-9 p.m.

Council District 1 – At Large: Steven Bonkowski and Barry Peters
Council District 2 – North Ward: Anne S. Blair and Melanie M. Keenan
Council District 4 – Central Ward: David Ward and Joe Levan
Council District 6 – South Ward: Sarah Blossom and Robert Dashiel
Bring your questions for the candidates.
Forum will be taped and broadcast later on BKAT

Oct. 6: Port Orchard City Council Chambers
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Port Orchard Mayor: Tim Mathes and Lary Coppola
City Council Position #5: Amy Miller and Cindy Lucarelli
City Council At-Large: Ben Pinneo and Jerry Childs
South Kitsap School Board District 5: Gregory Wall and Adele Macomber LaCombe
Bring your questions for the candidates.

Oct. 10: Norm Dicks Government Center, Bremerton
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Bremerton City Council, District #2: Cecil McConnell and Leslie Daugs
Port of Bremerton Commissioner, District 3: Axel Strakeljahn and Shawn Cucciardi
Discussion of Kitsap County’s proposal for a Veterans Human Services Levy
Bring your questions for the candidates.
Forum will be taped and broadcast later on BKAT

Oct. 13: Poulsbo City Hall
6:30 to 9 p.m.
County Commissioner, District #1: Chris Tibbs and Rob Gelder
Poulsbo City Council Position #2: Mike Dunphy and Connie Lord
North Kitsap School Board, District #4: Scott Henden and Val Torrens
Bring your questions for the candidates.
Forum will be taped and broadcast later on BKAT

For information on forums call (360) 871-3993.

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Have you ever wondered why your taxes never seem to go down when the value of your property drops? If so, you are not alone
The League of Women Voters of Kitsap will host a special meeting open to the public on property taxes Sept 28 at the Eagles Nest.
Kitsap County Assessor Jim Avery and Treasurer Meredith Green will take questions and help us understand where the money goes and how the current real estate market affects taxes and the local economy.
They will also discuss how changes in assessed value affect your tax bill and what effect the tax issue on November’s ballot will have if passed.
Come and get educated about these topics and other rumors and misconceptions.
Here are the details:
Property Tax Program
When: 9:30 a.m. social time
10 a.m. to noon meeting
Where: Eagles Nest, 1200 Fairgrounds Road NW
Info: Judy Matchett, (360) 830-4154

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A crowd gathered to hear from candidates for city council.

The League’s first two forums of the season, for Bainbridge Island City Council candidates and North Kitsap School Board candidates, took place on July 26 and 27.
Bremerton Kitsap Access TV (BKAT) videotaped the school board forum and will air it on Comcast Channel 12, Wave Channel 3 on 7/29 – 4pm, 7/30 – 7pm, 7/31 – 8:30pm, and 8/4 – 10am.

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The League of Women Voters of Kitsap will host the following candidate forums prior to the primary election:
Bainbridge Island City Council Candidate Forum
Tuesday, July 26th – 6:30 – 8:30 pm.

Bainbridge Island City Hall, 280 Madison Ave. N.


City Council Candidates: District 1 – At-Large
 Steven Bonkowski, Kimberly Hendrickson, and Barry Peters
District 4 – Central Ward: John Green, Joe Levan, Chris Van Dyk, and David Ward



Videotaped and broadcast courtesy of Bremerton Kitsap Access TV (BKAT)
To be shown on Comcast Channel 12 on 7/29 – 2 pm, 7/30 – 3 pm, 7/31- 7 pm and 8/1-1:30 pm

North Kitsap School Board District 4 Candidate Forum
Wednesday, July 27th – 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Poulsbo City Hall 1st Floor Council Chambers

North Kitsap School Board District 4 Candidates:
Julie Edwards, Scott Henden, and Val Torrens

Videotaped and broadcast courtesy of Bremerton Kitsap Access TV (BKAT)
To be shown on Comcast Channel 12, Wave Channel 3 on
7/29 – 4 pm, 7/30 – 7 pm, 7/31 – 8:30 pm, and 8/4 – 10 am

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Our next public meeting, on April 27, will focus on the crisis in health care funding. Hope to see everyone there. Below are the details.

Public Meeting

Severe Budget Cuts in Health Care Funding

What do they mean for Kitsap County?

Wednesday, April 27
9:30 a.m.-noon
Hostmark Apartments Community Center
6th Street, Poulsbo
(Note: Please park on 6th Street)

Speakers: Dr. Scott Linquist, Director, Kitsap County Health District
Barbara Malich, CEO, Peninsula Community Health Services

They will discuss budget cuts at both the federal and state level and how they will affect our community.

Information: Pam Hamon, (360) 598-3509 or pchamon@msn.com

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