Latest news with #LeagueOfWomenVoters
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
SAVE Act protesters in Willmar, Minnesota, say law would restrict voting access
May 22---- Demonstrators gathered under rainy skies to rally in favor of voting rights Wednesday in Willmar. In lieu of a planned march on First Street, about 50 demonstrators who came to Rice Park in their coats and rain ponchos instead occupied the picnic shelter at the park for approximately one hour Wednesday evening. Karen Kraemer, president of the Willmar Area League of Women Voters, said in her opening statement: "We work very hard to be non-partisan, but we are not neutral," characterizing the as a dangerous step toward voter suppression. The SAVE Act is sponsored by Rep. Chip Roy, a Texas Republican. The bill would require people to provide documentary proof of their U.S. citizenship, such as a birth certificate or U.S. passport, in order to vote in federal elections. The bill passed in the U.S. House in March on a mostly party-line vote and has since been sent to the U.S. Senate. Republicans, including Trump, have campaigned on and continue to press the idea that there is widespread voting by non-citizens, falsely claiming that it could unfairly swing elections despite the fact that multiple studies, including one at Minnesota's University of St. Thomas, have shown Voting rights advocates say the legislation seeks to fix a "non-issue," as it is already illegal for non-citizens to vote and doing so could result in criminal charges and possible deportation. Critics of the SAVE Act also say the bill as written would disenfranchise millions of legitimate American voters, ultimately leading to fewer people being able to vote in the same elections. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon told a Senate Rules Committee spotlight hearing on May 14 that the legislation "poses one of the greatest threats to the freedom to vote in our lifetime," according to his prepared remarks. He said it would keep millions of eligible Americans from the polls. Kraemer referenced information shared by Secretary Simon and Deirdre Schiefling, a national political advocacy director with the American Civil Liberties Union, who spoke in a May 20 co-hosted by the Minnesota League of Women Voters, ACLU of Minnesota and others. For example, Kraemer stated that had the SAVE Act been in place last year, she would have had trouble helping her 96-year-old mother register to vote. Kraemer said she had to help her mother move from a house to an apartment in 2024. Though all states in the U.S. had their own method of keeping birth records since about 1919, there was no standardized version of these records until the 1930s, according to a 2012 published in the "Journal of Perinatology." Kraemer's mother was born in 1928. Even if Kraemer could have obtained a birth certificate for her mother, it may not have met the standard set by the SAVE Act. Kraemer also stated that, due to her mother's age, both her driver's license and passport are expired and would not have been sufficient to allow her to register if the provisions of the SAVE Act were in force. "The real issue is that 90 million people did not vote in the last election," Kraemer said. "And 72 million people are eligible to vote but are not registered. Our goal should be to get people registered to vote, that's always been the goal of the League of Women Voters." One protester, Dr. Kathy Nelson-Hund, felt compelled to speak among the demonstrators, urging them to reach out to young people and get them involved stating, "They are our future. They need to know what is happening before it is too late," she said. A family medicine physician who practiced in Willmar until her recent retirement, Nelson-Hund told the West Central Tribune that while she was at Wednesday's rally she thought about the discrimination she faced early in her career being one of few women practicing medicine at the time. "My medical opinions were questioned a lot by my colleagues just because I was a woman," she said. Nelson-Hund said she remembers when married women would still need permission from their husbands to open credit card accounts. She thinks the SAVE Act could very well be another hoop that young women will have to jump through in order to secure their right to vote. "They just don't know how frightening that can be," she said.
CBS News
16-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
The 3 referendums on Pittsburgh voters' ballots explained
Election Day is next week, and we are taking a deeper dive into what voters will see on their ballots in the city. Three referendums are on the table, but the wording can be tricky if you don't know what they're asking. No matter what party affiliation you are or lack of affiliation, you can vote on these three referendums if you are a registered voter in the city of Pittsburgh. "These referendums have been traditionally written in ways that are gobbledygook," former KDKA political editor Jon Delano said. It can be like reading another language when you see questions asking: "Shall the Pittsburgh Home Rule Charter, Article One, Home Rule Powers - Definitions, be supplemented by adding a new Section, '105. Local Governance', by prohibiting the discrimination on the basis of race, religion, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or expression, disability, place of birth, national origin or association or affiliation with any nation or foreign state in conducting business of the City?" That's one of the questions for changing the city's home rule charter, which is essentially its constitution. Voting yes would mean "the city would still be able to do business with companies without investigating all of their dealings with other foreign governments and nationals," Ruth Quint, the co-president of the League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh, explained. Question two deals with water utilities: "Shall the Pittsburgh Home Rule Charter be amended and supplemented by adding a new Article 11: RIGHT TO PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF POTABLE WATER SYSTEMS, WASTEWATER SYSTEM, AND STORM SEWER SYSTEMS, which restricts the lease and/or sale of the City's water and sewer system to private entities?" Translation: "This resolution would prohibit the city of Pittsburgh's water and sewer authority from selling it, privatizing it or even leasing it to an entity other than a public entity," Delano said. Then there's question three: "Shall the Pittsburgh Home Rule Charter, Article One, Home Rule Powers - Definitions, be supplemented by adding a new section, '104. Amendments to Charter', by prohibiting the use of the Home Rule Charter Amendment process to add duties or obligations beyond the lawful scope of the city's authority?" In simple terms: "It's basically saying, because this is unconstitutional, the citizens shouldn't even be able to bring this question up," Quint said. Since the home rule charter is a legal document, you can thank that for the tricky wording. In all three cases, yes is stopping something from happening. A no answer is allowing it to happen. Here is more helpful information.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
GOP rivals Barberio, Musella tackle development, tax breaks in Parsippany mayoral debate
Bitter rivals since they took office together almost four years ago, Parsippany Mayor James Barberio and Councilman Justin Musella rarely see eye to eye on the issues. But facing each other on May 15 in a much-anticipated online debate — just weeks before Republican voters decide which one to nominate for mayor in the general election — the candidates found common ground on several points during the hourlong event. Parsippany's building boom and tax deals for developers continued to divide Musella, 33, and Barberio, 64, who is seeking a fourth term leading Morris County's largest community. But topics of agreement included the state of disrepair at the Lake Hiawatha Branch of the Parsippany Library. With a current estimate of more than $9 million to renovate the building, neither candidate predicted an affordable solution to save it. Barberio said the town was looking into a lease to occupy the Lake Hiawatha Rite Aid store, which closed last year. Musella suggested they look into shared services with neighboring Montville. The forum was hosted by the League of Women Voters Morris Area, the Daily Record and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Morristown Alumnae Chapter. Both men agreed the town had to do a better job at granting building permits in a timely manner, a common complaint in town from both contractors and residents. Barberio defended the existing staff but pointed to a problem recruiting construction code officials to come on board. "We're involved with a lot of new construction," Barberio said. Musella said building permits were "a top priority" for him, including adding staff and digitizing the process. Both also admitted that towns have little control over the affordable housing mandate that has fueled a wave of construction throughout the state, particularly in Parsippany, where more than 2,300 residential units are currently under construction. Barberio blamed the "Trenton Democrats" in control of state policy. Musella said it was essential for New Jersey to elect a Republican governor in November "to shut down the mandate." Both of them also insisted they would negotiate development deals for the town, not the developers. More: Parsippany demolished 2 million square feet of office space. Here's what will replace it One thing they did not agree on was the omnipresence of former township municipal attorney John Inglesino in many of those Parsippany development deals, including several that included the sometimes controversial practice of awarding tax discounts known as PILOTs, or "payment in lieu of taxes." Inglesino is now a private attorney who has represented several developers in negotiations with the township. PILOT supporters include Barberio — "they are absolutely necessary" he said during the debate. Backers say the tax deals give builders incentives to knock down vacant office buildings in town and replace them with revenue-generating properties. Musella said PILOTs can be a useful tool in certain negotiations, but he blasted the flurry of agreements granted by the Barberio administration as "corporate welfare for the mayor's top fundraiser and our former town attorney, John Inglesino." Barberio defended Inglesino and his administration's PILOTs. "We had certain projects that if they didn't get PILOTs, they were going to leave," Barberio said. "They would have left, they would have demolished the buildings, and who would subsidize the taxes? The taxpayer. We can't allow that to happen." "We have to end the culture of cronyism in town hall," Musella said later. "It is a serious problem that [Inglesino] does the majority of the development in town and receives all the PILOT contracts." "You got to let John Inglesino stop living rent-free in your head," Barberio shot back, adding that Musella voted in favor of the Inglesino development proposals, if not the PILOTs that followed. "If the guy was that evil, I wouldn't have invited him to my wedding," Barbero added. "But that's beside the point. John does not push development forward here in Parsippany." "In Parsippany, having good relations with John Inglesino is essential to getting anything done," Musella countered. "Developers know that. Residents know that. Anybody on the outside looking in knows that. I want things being done fairly, equitably, and transparently, where one person in particular doesn't just cut the line to get whatever they want." Musella questioned why, in addition to housing construction, that PILOTs had been granted to two warehouse projects and a new Lifetime Fitness gym along Sylvan Way. "The mayor is incentivizing the very things that are in extreme demand right now," he said. "Everybody is knocking down our door to build an apartment building or a warehouse. And to put us into business with a gym for 30 years I thought was completely the wrong thing. Because it's Parsippay taxpayers that assume the risk." The debate ended on a more civil note as each candidate was asked to say something nice about the other. Musella said Barberio was "a nice person" who cared about the town." "Our issues are not personal," he added. "Justin's absolutely correct, I don't take it personal, and I hope he doesn't take it personal after I read my closing statement," the mayor joked. "What I do really like about Justin, like myself, he cares about the town, he cares about the residents. One thing that touches my heart, when he had his baby. I had no problem congratulating him and his wife, Courtney, There's no greater gift in the world." Finally, both agreed to support the primary winner in the general election. Barberio and Musella ran together four years ago but have clashed in public practically since they took office. Now, they'll vie in the June 10 GOP primary for the right to lead the town of 56,000 people, which has Morris County's only full-time mayor's office. Barberio is seeking a fourth term after being elected in 2009 and 2013, losing in 2017 and then reclaiming the post in 2021. He is running on a ticket with two town council candidates: current Council Vice President Frank Neglia and Jigar Shah, who the mayor appointed during his first term as his liaison to the large Indian American community in town. Musella was elected with Barberio and Neglia, but has broken with his fellow Republicans, becoming a vocal critics of the town's deals with developers. He has also criticized the township's adoption of project labor agreements that favor larger unions for big municipal projects. Musella is running with former Planning Board Chairman Casey Parikh and John Bielen, a business development professional. The GOP council candidates will not debate. Parikh and Bielen agreed to take part in a League of Women Voters forum but Neglia and Shah declined. Democrats have endorsed Pulkit Desai, president of the Lake Parsippany Property Owner's Association, for mayor and Matt Kavanagh and Diya Patel for council. Unopposed in the primary, they will meet the winners of the Republican race in the November general election. A second mayoral debate proposed by the Puddingstone Community Club that would have included Desai was postponed last week after conflicting reports about the event posted on local websites created public confusion. This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: In Parsippany, GOP rivals Barberio, Musella clash in mayoral debate
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Parsippany's rival Republican mayoral candidates to debate in online forum May 15
Parsippany's rival Republican mayoral candidates — incumbent James Barberio and Councilman Justin Musella — will take their tense primary fight to a debate this week. Barberio and Musella ran together four years ago but have clashed in public practically since they took office. Now, they're vying in the June GOP primary for the right to lead the town of 56,000 people, Morris County's largest. But first, they'll meet in a virtual debate to be conducted May 15 by the League of Women Voters' Morris Area chapter and cosponsored by the Daily Record. The candidates will meet on Zoom starting at 7 p.m. on the LWV Morris YouTube channel. The debate will also be sponsored by the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Morristown Alumnae Chapter. "League-sponsored events are strictly nonpartisan," the debate announcement states. "The League does not support or oppose any political candidate or party." The Daily Record is covering the election but will not make any municipal or county candidate endorsements. Barberio, 64, is seeking a fourth term in office, after being elected in 2009 and 2013, losing in 2017 and then reclaiming the post in 2021. He is running on a ticket with two town council candidates: current Council Vice President Frank Neglia and Jigar Shah, who the mayor appointed during his first term as his liaison to the large Indian American community in town. Musella, 33, was elected with Barberio and Neglia, but has broken with his fellow Republicans in the council majority over the developer tax breaks known as PILOTs, or payments in lieu of taxes. He has also criticized the township's adoption of project labor agreements that favor larger unions for big municipal projects. The Republicans' latest showdown, in March, involved a failed attempt by Barberio and his council allies to censure Musella for presenting his credentials to a township police officer during a 2023 traffic stop for speeding. Following a public outcry at a council meeting — which had to be rescheduled due to an overflow crowd — the censure resolution was voted down. Barberio picked up a surprise supporter earlier this year in Morris County Republican Chair Laura Ali, who previously had supported Musella. She dismissed Barberio last year as "the highest-paid and least-qualified mayor in Morris County." But in January, Ali called for Musella to abandon his run for mayor and accept a council nomination. "The 2025 election cycle poses significant challenges, and I strongly believe a united front is essential for ensuring Republican success in the general election," she wrote in a letter to the candidates at the time. Musella declined Ali's offer, saying, "Our campaign to end the cycle of corruption, over-taxation and taxpayer-funded overdevelopment in Parsippany, once and for all, cannot be intimidated." Musella went on to name two council candidates as part of his own ticket, Casey Parikh and John Bielen. The GOP council candidates currently have no plans to debate. Parikh and Bielen agreed to take part in a League of Women Voters forum but Neglia and Shah declined. More: Parsippany Democrats promise less drama, more focus on governing in mayor, council races "Mayor Barberio, Jigar, and myself work together as a team and we all share the same vision for our great town," Neglia said. "Together, we agreed it would be best to have Mayor Barberio represent all of us and believe that my record and Jigar's business acumen will inspire Parsippany residents to support our ticket." Democrats have endorsed Pulkit Desai, president of the Lake Parsippany Property Owner's Association, for mayor and Matt Kavanagh and Diya Patel for council. Unopposed in the primary, they will meet the winners of the Republican race in the November general election. A second debate proposed by the Puddingstone Community Club was postponed last week after conflicting reports about the event posted on local websites created public confusion. "At this time, we feel that our board will need more time to make sure that we are organizing a peaceful, professional, and respectful debate," the organizers stated. Democrats have historically struggled to win and hold council seats in the county's largest municipality. But Barberio is the only Parsippany Republican to win the mayor's office in more than 30 years, and only one of two GOP candidates elected to the office in nearly half a century Republican Frank Priore was removed from office after 12 years following his conviction on mail fraud, bribery and other charges in 1994. Priore served a five-year sentence. He died in 2022. Democrat Mimi Letts then served from 1994 to 2005, when she declined to run for another term. Letts died in 2019. Priore was preceded by Democrat Jack Fahy, who served from 1974 to 1982, when Priore unseated him. Fahy succeeded Democrat Henry Luther, who was in office from 1966 to 1974. Luther declined to run for re-election in 1973. Luther's son, Michael Luther, also a Democrat, succeeded Letts before losing his re-election bid to Barberio in 2009. Barberio won re-election in 2013, but lost his bid for a third term to Soriano in 2017. Barberio returned the favor in 2021, beating Soriano in their rematch. This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Parsippany NJ mayor race: Barberio, Musella to hold GOP primary debate
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump's Victory Day plan is dismissive, just like Ohio's proposed voter ID law
Reading about President Donald Trump wanting to change Veterans Day on Nov. 11 to Victory Day for World War I and creating May 8 as Victory Day for World War II veterans makes me wonder where it will all end. The veterans of those two monumental conflicts deserve to be acknowledged for their efforts and sacrifices. But that minimizes the same work that veterans did on a lesser scale in other armed conflicts the U.S. was a part of in later years. What about Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and others? The flying bullets were no less lethal, and time and effort were just as serious as the World Wars. Do we just forget about those? As a Vietnam veteran, I feel slighted for him to even consider the change. He may feel differently if he had served. Bob McElroy, Anderson If Senate Bill 153 passes in Ohio, online and mail voter registration will end. Voter registration drives, like those run by the League of Women Voters, end. Why? You'd have to prove your citizenship to register or update your registration by bringing a birth certificate, passport, or naturalization certificate to the Board of Elections or BMV in person. Real IDs don't count. This includes anyone whose name was changed after birth, including married women who changed their surnames (84%), and anyone who needs to update their voter registration address. This voter suppression is also an unfunded mandate on the elections staff. In 2022, one million Americans registered or updated their voter registrations, with only 6% doing it in person. SB 153 could send an additional 18,800 people to go in person to the Ohio Boards of Elections. Letter: Voters who put faith in Trump need to admit they made a huge mistake Similar laws were tested in other states. In Kansas, it was struck down because it prevented eligible voters from registering. Let's not make a working process less efficient and terribly costly. Educate yourself and tell your Ohio legislators to vote against SB 153. Claire Wagner, Colerain Township Letter: Mister Rogers, Sesame Street on PBS teach empathy. Trump wants to take that away. As I read local reactions to President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office ('Cincinnatians vilify, praise Trump'), one thing jumped out: Every person quoted in favor of Trump gave verifiably false information as the reason for their continued support. One praised Trump's alleged "cost-cutting," when in reality, Trump's DOGE has increased spending by more than 6%. Another praised Trump's supposed "business acumen," when in fact, Trump's tariff wars have caused the stock market to plunge. Another claimed immigrants are a burden to society, when in reality, immigrants create more than $2 trillion in economic activity every year. It is deeply frightening that so many of our neighbors live in a bubble of pure fiction. Karen Weese, Montgomery This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Trump supporters justify his actions with misinformation | Letters
