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LWV US calls for removal of President Trump

January 8, 2021 letter from LWVUS Board President Deborah Ann Turner

Last night, the full LWVUS and LWVEF boards met to consider the events of this week and unanimously voted to call for the removal of President Trump from the office of the president.

And this afternoon, we issued an action alert for people to call their senators and ask them to support impeachment.

This was an unprecedented decision for our organization. As a respected, 100-year-old nonpartisan institution, the League’s action represents the grave and extraordinary nature of this moment in history. The world we live in is fundamentally different after the events of January 6.

Donald Trump showed himself to be a dangerous agitator with the power and will to upend our democracy by force. He is a threat to our republic and to our national security.

We know that this decision will be controversial, but this moment in history demands we protect and defend our democracy. We cannot stand silent as the actions of President Trump this week have demonstrated he is unfit for office. We will not endure the next two weeks and the potential for further damage to our democracy and the world. It is time to remove him from office by any legal means possible, which is why LWVUS supports both impeachment and the 25th Amendment as viable options to ensure safety of Americans and preservation of our republic.

The statement we issued this morning was not a partisan one. As we made clear in the statement, we support the processes that would remove Donald Trump and install Mike Pence as president for the remainder of the term. On January 21, we are hosting a webinar how our nonpartisan and DEI policies intersect and how to navigate them during hyper-partisan times. We welcome everyone to attend.

All of you, our members across the country and around the world, have joined this organization because you believe in the power of women to create a more perfect democracy. Today, we ask you to stand together in this decision to defend democracy as we have for 100 years.

In solidarity,

Dr. Deborah Ann Turner signature

Dr. Deborah Ann Turner
Board President, LWVUS

How Does the MA Legislature Work?

How the Massachusetts Legislature WorksJoin the Massachusetts League of Women Voters and Beacon Bloc on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 7:00 PM via Zoom for a briefing by current legislative staffers who comprise Beacon BLOC (Building Leaders of Color). Read more about Beacon BLOC and their mission.

Submit your questions ahead of time or bring them with you for an interactive discussion.

Register here.

Happy 100 Years LWV Massachusetts! And Congratulations to our “Formidable Woman” Bonnie Carter!

Linda and Bonnie celebrating 100 years of the LWV 12/13/20

On December 13, 2020, the LWV of Massachusetts celebrated its 100th birthday with a birthday gala attended by over 250 people.

At that celebration, LWVMA honored the “formidable women” from local leagues.  LWVN’s very own Bonnie Carter was recognized as one such “formidable woman” for her over 40 years of work with the league.

We are so proud of you, Bonnie!!

A video montage of the LWVMA’s last 100 years can be viewed below. Read more →

Meet Representative-Elect Jake Auchincloss

Picture of Jake AuchinclossJake Auchincloss will join members of the Leagues of Women Voters in Congressional District 4 on Tuesday, December 8 at 7:00 pm for a conversation on Zoom. We will discuss League priorities, the upcoming congressional session, and Jake’s priorities for his first term. Q&A will follow.

The meeting is open to League members from Congressional District 4. Please register in advance for the Zoom event.

Not a member? Join the League of Women Voters of Newton.

Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy

The U.S. Senate must prioritize protecting the American people during the pandemic and securing our 2020 elections

WASHINGTON – League of Women Voters board president Deborah Turner and CEO Virginia Kase issued the following joint statement on rushing the Supreme Court appointment process:

“Four years ago, Senate leaders set a precedent for how the confirmation process for a Supreme Court justice appointee should occur during a presidential election year. In 2016, a Supreme Court seat sat vacant for more than 300 days, showing that there is no reason to rush this process in 2020. If it was too soon then, it’s too soon now.

“The American people are in despair during this global pandemic: millions are out of work and more than 200,000 have lost their lives to this deadly virus. It is the duty of our elected officials to provide relief to the American people and ensure all voters can participate in our democracy by safely casting their votes this year.

“Supreme Court justices serve for life and make decisions that impact every American. They require a thorough vetting process that is transparent to the American people. Such a process would be undermined if rushed through.

“Now is not the time to rush a lifetime appointment to the United States Supreme Court.”

CONTACT: Sarah Courtney | 202-263-1332 | scourtney@lwv.org

 

LWV Climate Change Task Force

The LWV Climate Change Task Force would like to gather the League information for all League members who an interest in climate. We have over 1000 League members on our list, so together we make powerful state and regional networks. Please let us know your League by filling out the form at the link below.

Link to Form Here

 

Climate Action – LWV US & MA

Coalition Letter Urges Action on Electrification of Vehicles as COVID-19 Pandemic Highlights the Dangers of Air Pollution

The Massachusetts Zero Emission Vehicle Coalition and its partners, which includes the Newton EV Task Force and League of Women Voters Massachusetts, recently sent the Department of Transportation and Department of Environmental Protection a letter urging the following action by the State: “Set a goal and create an action plan for all vehicles to be electric by 2040. Commit to all electric transit and school bus fleets by 2035. Commit to complete electrification of state and municipal fleets by 2035. Establish goals and incentive programs for the conversion of private vehicle fleets.”

The COVID-19 pandemic makes the transition to cleaner electric vehicles even more urgent as, “People with COVID-19 who live in US Regions with high levels of air pollution are more likely to die from the disease than people who live in less polluted areas.”  Middlesex County has the second highest level of air pollution particulate matter in Massachusetts, much of it concentrated along the Mass Pike and 128 (A Clean Transportation System for my Patients).

Transportation accounts for the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Massachusetts.  Setting a goal and creating an action plan for electrification of vehicles is an important step toward achieving the State’s ambitious net zero emissions limit. It’s time for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to make good on the Governor’s  Earth Day 2020 pledge for an aggressive, science-based, net-zero emissions limit.

Newton’s Climate Action Plan, officially adopted on November, 11, 2019, as a part of the City’s Comprehensive Plan, includes the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.  Recently the City made a step towards this goal by converting the NewMo, senior transportation vehicles, to hybrid vehicles.

At the LWVUS Convention in June, the League of Women Voters of Araphoe and Douglas Counties proposed a resolution that calls for an immediate, wide-scale, mobilization by the United States that restores, protects, and funds an ecologically sustainable environment and climate, based on an interrelated approach that is environmentally sound, science-based, just and equitable, and dedicated to appropriately addressing the speed and scale of the global climate change emergency.  This resolution was passed at the convention by an overwhelming majority, thereby reenforcing the LWVUS commitment to the environment.

Read the complete letter from the Massachusetts Zero Emission Vehicle Coalition.