League of Women Voters of Southwest Missouri
LWV Today: February 2012 newsletter of League of Women Voters of Southwest Missouri
Unit meetings to focus on ‘privatization’
Should core government services be run by the government or transferred to the private sector? Learn more about this timely topic at unit meetings this month. Consider the pros and cons, the economic theories behind privatization and how it actually works . Presenters will be study committee members Ilga Vise, chair, Peggy Hedrick, Gail Melgren, Cindi Runowski and Lois Woods.
Look over the consensus questions, below, before the meeting. Ilga suggests printing a copy of the questions and bringing it to the meeting. Brief yourself on the topic by checking out information on the website of the national League: http://www.lwv.org/member-resources/privatization
Choose a unit meeting that best matches your schedule:
Monday, Feb. 20, 5:30 p.m. at Cafe Roswitha, 2640 S. Glenstone (north end of Brentwood Center). Order dinner if you wish. RSVP to unit leader Lois Woods: llw1903@yahoo.com
Tuesday, Feb. 21, noon, Panhellenic Hall, Drury University. Panhellenic Hall is located just east of Findlay Student Center. Park across Summit Street. Purchase lunch if you wish at Findlay Student Center cafeteria. RSVP to unit co-leader Ilga Vise: ivise@drury.edu
Also at unit meetings will be a discussion on local issues worthy of study by the League in 2012-13. Bring your ideas, all of which will be forwarded to the board. A decision on local study topic(s) will be made by members at Annual Meeting in May.
The consensus questions for the Privatization study can be found at the lwv.org link above, or scroll to the end of this newsletter.
Why so few women in government?
The League is co-sponsoring with Missouri State University the documentary Miss Representation, at 7 p.m. March 13 at Plaster Student Union Theater.
The film explores how the media’s misrepresentations of women have led to the underrepresentation of women in positions of power and influence. It premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, and aired on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. It was produced by Jennifer Siebel Newsom,
League members are encouraged to attend. The screening is part of Missouri State’s observance of Women’s History Month.
Photo Voter ID bill now goes to Senate
After many hours of contentious debate, the Missouri House of Representatives has passed HB1104, which would require citizens to show a state-issued photo ID to vote. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Shane Schoeller (R-Willard), passed the House by a vote 101 to 54. It now heads to the Senate. The vote split on party lines.
A companion bill in the Missouri Senate, SB442, sponsored by Sen. Bill Stouffer (R-Marshall), passed out of a senate committee but has not had a floor vote.
Please tell your senator that the League of Women Voters opposes any proposal that might suppress voting, particularly a mandated state-issued photo ID requirement that would disenfranchise 250,000 Missouri voters who lack a current state ID. Access a photo ID fact sheet here
Look up your senator here: http://www.senate.mo.gov/llookup/leg_lookup.aspx
Additional Resources:
To stay informed on Missouri voter photo ID issues, send an email to MissouriVoterProtection-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Denise Leiberman, senior attorney with the national Advancement Project was excellent on St. Louis news radio KSDK. Check out the video here.
Youth Voter Education Project launches March 9
The League will be working March 9 with students in Central High School’s Liberty and Law classes on a project to empower young people. The Youth Voter Education Project will bring Greene County Clerk Richard Struckhoff and Missouri State University sociology professor Mike Stout to seven sections of the citizenship class. League members will provide basic information about voting and the role citizens play in democracy. Class discussion will be driven by students. They have already asked for information on the recently-passed E-Verify ordinance. League members heading up this project are Susan Rubino, Diane Davidson and Dot Powell, assisted by Allison Cash and Mary Martin.
Community responds to League’s E-verify forum
Nearly 200 people attended a Jan. 31 forum sponsored by the League and the Springfield-Greene County Civility Project, held at Central High School’s auditorium. The topic was the e-Verify ordinance narrowly passed by Springfield voters a week later.
The forum had all the hallmarks of a true League program: two speakers supporting the measure, two against. City Clerk Brenda Cirtin explained the initiative petition process and an attorney pointed out legal ramifications. League President Allison Cash took the podium first, to spell out the mechanics. Member Elizabeth Fahey was the moderator. Ilga Vise served as timekeeper.
Third in series ‘Women Changing Government’ planned for fall
A League committee has started work on another program designed to encourage women to come involved in public service. The program, Women Changing Government, is planned for the fall. Participants in the League’s 2009 luncheon and 2010 workshop on women in public life will be special invitees. For more information, contact Ann Elwell, aelwell@classicnet.net
PRIVATIZATION CONSENSUS QUESTIONS
1. As a general matter, the extent to which government functions, services and assets have been privatized in the past decade is:
__ Much too much __ Too much __ About right __ Too little __ Much too little __ No consensus
2. Core government services and functions important to well-being of the people should remain with government and not be transferred to the private sector.
___Strongly agree ___ Agree ___ Disagree ___Strongly disagree ____No consensus
3. As a matter of good government policy, which of the following criteria should be applied when making decisions to transfer government services, assets and functions to the private sector?
a. Transparency and Accountability: All government contracts with private companies for services must ensure public access to relevant records and information regarding contracted services, functions and assets and provide for adequate government oversight and control.
___High priority ___ Lower priority ___Not a priority __ No consensus
b. Public Well-being: Provisions are in place to assure that, in the event any public services are to be privatized, there will be no increased risks to public well-being, especially to vulnerable populations.
___High priority ___ Lower priority ___Not a priority __ No consensus
c. Cost and Quality: Privatized services should not appreciably increase the costs or decrease the quality of services to the public.
___High priority ___ Lower priority ___Not a priority __ No consensus
d. Environmental and Natural Resources: Defined parameters should be in place to assure that environmental and natural resources are not compromised. ___High priority ___ Lower priority ___Not a priority __ No consensus
e. Contracts and Sales of Public Assets: All government contracts and privatized public assets should be subject to competitive bidding and comply with all laws regarding awarding contracts.
___High priority ___ Lower priority ___Not a priority __ No consensus
f. Economic Impact: Privatization should not result in a negative economic impact on
the communities in which the services are provided.
___High priority ___ Lower priority ___Not a priority __ No consensus
g . Government Recovery of Services and Assets: Provisions should be in place to recover key services, assets and functions should the private sector fail to safeguard them.
___High priority ___ Lower priority ___Not a priority __ No consensus
4. Privatization is not appropriate:
a. When the government lacks the will, ability or resources to adequately oversee contracts with the private entity and any successor thereto.
__Agree __Disagree __ No Consensus
b. When there is no private entity able or willing to provide the service for the short and long term.
__Agree __Disagree __ No Consensus
c. When it poses a potential threat to national security.
__Agree __Disagree __ No Consensus
d. When it poses a risk to personal or security data.
__Agree __Disagree __ No Consensus
e. When there has been evidence of potential corruption.
__Agree __Disagree __ No Consensus
f. When the private entity’s goals and purposes are not compatible with public well-being.
__Agree __Disagree __ No Consensus
g. When the private entity has not complied with existing government requirements for public records, open meetings or publication of reports and audits.
__Agree __Disagree __ No Consensus
h. When a loss of revenue decreases government support for mandated or critical services.
__Agree __Disagree __ No Consensus
5. Some states have developed laws and regulations to control the process of privatization within their jurisdictions.
As a general matter, should privatization be regulated?
___ a. Yes, all privatization efforts should be regulated.
___ b. Yes, some types of privatization efforts should be regulated.
___ c. No, privatization efforts should never be regulated
___ d. No consensus
6. Which of the following should be included in the regulatory process when privatizing public assets, services and functions?
a. Timely public announcements regarding intentions to privatize and the clear and measurable expected benefits to the public
__Strongly agree __Agree __Disagree __Strongly disagree __No consensus
b. Public and stakeholder (investors, shareholders, experts) input into the decision and terms of the contract.
__Strongly agree __Agree __Disagree __Strongly disagree __No consensus
c. Feasibility study regarding performance, costs and benefits.
__Strongly agree __Agree __Disagree __Strongly disagree __No consensus
d. Adherence to all laws regarding public contracts..
__Strongly agree __Agree __Disagree __Strongly disagree __No consensus
e Transition plans for displaced employees.
__Strongly agree __Agree __Disagree __Strongly disagree __No consensus
f. Accountability and transparency provisions in all contracts.
__Strongly agree __Agree __Disagree __Strongly disagree __No consensus
g. Regular performance evaluations including meaningful opportunity for public comment.
__Strongly agree __Agree __Disagree __Strongly disagree __No consensus
h. Provisions for transferring services and assets back to the government or another contractor in the event of inadequate performance.
__Strongly agree __Agree __Disagree __Strongly disagree __No consensus
- Adequate resources for enforcement.
__Strongly agree __Agree __Disagree __Strongly disagree __No consensus
