Did you participate in our consensus meetings last spring on Welcoming Immigrants and Elder Caregiving? The LWVWA board proposed positions on these issues based on the consensus meeting feedback, and they were adopted at the state convention this June. Now, we have positions and can advocate at the state and local levels on these issues.
If you are curious about the positions or want to see the full text, you can check out our website where volunteer Robin Barker has helpfully provided past local programs and positions and links to LWVWA and LWVUS positions. In summary, the LWVWA approved these positions:
Elder Caregiving
Position in Brief: action to increase information, funding and services for elders who are unable to care for themselves without assistance. This includes improved multisector planning and coordination, support for family caregivers, and working conditions for paid caregivers.
Welcoming Immigrants in Washington
State
Position in Brief: the League of Women Voters of Washington believes that all residents of Washington state, regardless of immigration status or citizenship, should be treated with dignity and respect. This means that all residents, regardless of immigration status or citizenship, should have access to essential state-funded services, have the opportunity to avail themselves of legal representation in court and immigration proceedings, and have the opportunity to live and work in safety. The League encourages all elected officials and government leaders in Washington to continue to take action to ensure these fundamental rights. It also means that political leaders in Washington have an obligation to condemn xenophobia, discrimination, and anti-immigrant rhetoric.
We participated in a similar effort at the national level, meeting to reach consensus on Federal Judicial Ethics.
Federal Judiciary
Position in brief: the League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS) believes that all powers of the US government should be exercised within the constitutional framework of the balance of powers among the three branches of government. The League believes that, within the bounds of the US Constitution, the overarching principles of transparency, accountability, independence, and ethics are essential to an effective federal judiciary. These principles are not only essential for a strong democracy but foster public trust in the federal judiciary and adherence to the rule of law, the essence of our constitutional democracy.