Issues and Positions

 From voting rights to the environment, from social justice to peace on earth, voters care about many things. The League takes stands and lobbies our government on all of these matters and many more.

Before advocating in any area, the League studies the issue then obtains member input through a process called member consensus. This deliberate approach ensures that our positions are thoughtful and informed.  The result is the positions you can see on this page. Periodically the LWVNJ publishes a newsletter showing the state League's advocacy efforts.  You can read the March 2022 issue here (pdf file). It gives a good idea what the state League has been working on. The May 2022 edition is here.

All of these positions are either state League or national League positions. At the local level we generally follow the lead of the higher levels when advocating to state or national officials. On the other hand, some of the positions, such as supporting open government, protecting the environment, or promoting a flexible system of public transit, may have implications directly for Camden County and nearby areas, in which case the LWVCC can use those positions when speaking to local officials.

Of course, individual members should never speak for the League without authorization.

Summary of Positions on Issues

At all levels, but especially state and national, League members study issues and adopt positions that then guide the League in taking action.

League Core Principles
Underlying all the rest are the core principles of the League that Leagues at all levels support.  Since these are key to what we care about, here is the complete list, from the LWVUS publication Study and Action 2018-2020:
The League of Women Voters believes:

• In representative government and in the individual liberties established in the Constitution of the United States.
• All powers of the U.S. government should be exercised within the constitutional framework of a balance among the three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial.
• Democratic government depends upon informed and active participation in government and requires that governmental bodies protect the citizen’s right to know by giving adequate notice of proposed actions, holding open meetings, and making public records accessible.
• Every citizen should be protected in the right to vote;
  • every person should have access to free public education that provides equal opportunity for all; and
  • no person or group should suffer legal, economic, or administrative discrimination.
• Efficient and economical government requires competent personnel, the clear assignment of responsibility, adequate financing, and coordination among the different agencies and levels of government.
• Responsible government should be responsive to the will of the people; government should:
  • maintain an equitable and flexible system of taxation,
  • promote the conservation and development of natural resources in the public interest,
  • share in the solution of economic and social problems that affect the general welfare,
  • promote a sound economy, and
  • adopt domestic policies that facilitate the solution of international problems.
• Cooperation with other nations is essential in the search for solutions to world problems and that development of international organization and international law is imperative in the promotion of world peace.

 
LWVUS Specific Positions
 
The LWVUS also has adopted a number of specific positions over the years. These have been studied by League members and adopted through a consensus process. Below are highlights from the LWVUS. For more details see Impact on Issues.
 
REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT: Promote an open government system that is representative, accountable, responsive …. This includes:

• protecting the right of every citizen to vote
• supporting open government and right to know
• supporting an accountable, representative, and effective legislative process and a dynamic balance of powers
• support DC self governance and representation in Congress
• support a fair and efficient redistricting process
• support reducing the impact of money and moneyed interests in politics
• support abolition of the Electoral College
• Support electoral systems at each level of government that encourage participation, are verifiable and
  auditable and enhance representation for all voters (new position 2020!)

 
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Promote peace in an interdependent world. This includes:

• Support arms control
• Support free trade with protection of health, safety, and  respect for the environment in trade treaties
• Support the UN
• Support international development

 
NATURAL RESOURCES
Promote an environment beneficial to life through the protection and wise management of natural resources in the public interest, recognizing the interrelationship of air quality, energy, land use, waste management and water resources.  This includes:
 
SOCIAL POLICY
Promote social and economic justice, secure equal rights for all and combat discrimination and poverty.
This includes:

• Support access to affordable, quality in- and out- patient behavioral health care
• Support programs, services and policies to expand the supply of affordable, quality child care
• Support the abolition of the death penalty.
• Support ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment
• Support marriage equality for same sex couples.
• Support federal policies that provide an equitable, quality public education for all children pre-K through grade 12
• Support: adequate and flexible funding of federal government programs
• Oppose: (1) balanced budget amendment; (2) a federal line-item veto; (3) cutting social security benefits to reduce the federal deficit; (4) a value added tax or national sales tax.
• Support gun control
• Support a health care system that provides a minimum level of care for all, with a national health insurance plan the ideal.
• Oppose human trafficking
• Support immigration policies fair to immigrants, that meet the needs of the US
• Support provisions for unauthorized immigrants already in the country to earn legal status
• Support: programs and policies to prevent or reduce poverty and to promote self-sufficiency for individuals and families.
• Support alternatives to imprisonment
• Oppose mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses.

 

 
LWVNJ Specific Positions

The LWVNJ has adopted a number of state-level positions over the years. Like national positions, they were studied by League members and adopted through a consensus process. Below are highlights from LWVNJ. For more details see the summary of positions on the LWVNJ web site or the downloadable Study and Action:
 
ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE

• Death Penalty (2004): Oppose use of capital punishment as a sentencing option for murder or any other crime.
• Family Court (1977): Support adequate funding for the Family Court.
• Juvenile justice system (1996) Support rehabilitation as the primary function of our juvenile justice system, Support measures to reduce disproportionate representation of minority youth in the system.
• Mediation (1989) should be available as an option in all municipal courts.

 
EDUCATION

• Charter schools (2000) Support the intent of charter schools if the innovative practices that justify each school are clearly defined.
• Private school choice/vouchers (1995) Oppose vouchers or other use of public funds to support students in non-public schools.
• School district regionalization (Revised 2007) Support decision-making by citizens of the affected districts on school district regionalization and sharing of services.

FISCAL POLICY

• Dedication of taxes (1996) Oppose constitutional dedication of taxes.
• Public school funding (2001) Promote increased state funding for public education to guarantee a thorough and efficient education, equalize opportunities, and provide adequate support for children with special needs.
• Tax and spending policy (1996) Support a sound fiscal policy with balanced, progressive, and equitable tax structure, reduced dependency on the property tax.

GOVERNMENT

• Financing political campaigns (2001) Support improved methods, including contribution and expenditure disclosure and limitations, and a system of public and private funding for campaigns.
• Independent Commissions and Authorities (1989) Promote accountability and openness with executive branch oversight.
• Structures and procedures (1987) Support longer, staggered Assembly terms and single member districts.
• Voting Rights for Parolees and Probationers (2009) Support restoring voting rights to all parolees and probationers who are U.S. citizens.

 
NATURAL RESOURCES: Integrated Smart Growth Position (2005)

• General: Support conservation of open space, biodiversity, and farmland, historic preservation, and provision of low and moderate-income housing consistent with environmental policies. Support an effective process for public transit planning that maximizes social and environmental benefits.
• Coastal Zone: Support coastal zone planning which considers the best possible outcome for people, the land and the coastal environment.

NATURAL RESOURCES: Other positions

• Radioactive waste management (1983) Promote radioactive waste management regulations which give primary consideration to public health and safety and prevention of environmental degradation.
• Solid waste management (1986) Support implementation of strategies for managing the municipal solid waste stream in the following order: source reduction, recycling, waste-to-energy, landfill.

SOCIAL POLICY

• Driving Certificates for undocumented drivers: Support for the state to provide "driving certificates" or some other form of proof of driving validation to undocumented drivers,
• Instate tuition (2009). Supports extending instate tuition to unauthorized immigrants who graduate from NJ high schools and are admitted to NJ’s public institutions of higher education.

TRANSPORTATION (1986)

• Promote a system which provides all segments of the population with a minimum acceptable level of mobility.

 
WOMEN AND FAMILY ISSUES

• Childcare (1987) Support state efforts to increase the availability of quality child care services. 
• Domestic violence (1991) Support measures which protect victims and survivors of domestic violence through uniform quality law enforcement and human services intervention.
• Legal status of women (1979) Promote laws which protect the rights of women, provide adequate protection for women throughout their lives, and take into consideration changes which may occur in their status (single/married/divorced, working/non-working, etc.).
• Reproductive choice (1982) Support the right of the individual to make the choice of whether or not to terminate a pregnancy.
• Human Trafficking (2013) Oppose all forms of domestic and international human trafficking of adults and children, including sex trafficking and labor trafficking.
• Sexual Assaults in the College Community (2017) Support policies and legislative educational programs that define, prevent, report, and combat inappropriate sexual misconduct as well as sexual assault and rape against both women and men within the college campus community.