GOVERNMENT NEWS AND VIEWS
Two items recently appeared on the Board of Supervisors agenda that should be interest to members and which relate to the League's government positions:
First, as reported in the various newspapers, Monterey County approved the switch from using punch card ballots for its election systems to using an optical scan system. Such a system still does not fully satisfy the requirements under the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA), which is practically funding the replacement system. There are portions of the disabled community that are still disenfranchised from the voting system because their participation can not yet been done in secret. LWVMP looks forward to when Monterey County is fully compliant with the Act by 2006 at the latest. LWVMP submitted testimony on the County's action and expressed a concern that the new system needs to be fully tested prior to the November election and that poll workers need in-depth and extensive training on this new voting system to avoid complications on Election Day. This is of concern because of the late date that the County has decided to make the change.
Second, an item on the August 3 Board of Supervisors meeting was a request to revise how information relating to local political campaign finance disclosures are made available to the public. Currently, finance disclosure statements are available at the elections department and at local libraries. The distribution of the statements to local libraries was a result of a county task force (which involved the League) that examined whether or not Monterey County should reform its local campaign financing rules. The only action that resulted was for the statements to be distributed to the libraries. The supervisors are now going to look into whether this information should be published, instead, on the web.
On the national level, the LWVUS has responded to its grassroots membership that it takes a more active role in the debate on civil liberties. As a result, the LWVUS has moved the issue of civil liberties to its highest priority for 2004 and will review this priority (as it does every year) at the beginning of 2005. The LWVUS has created the following questions on civil liberties issues for consideration by federal and local candidates this election season.
Questions for Federal Candidates:
- While there are real and serious terrorist threats to Americans, it is important that we preserve the greatest degree of civil liberty in the fight against terrorism. Do you believe that the USA Patriot Act strikes the appropriate balance between ensuring homeland security and preserving individual liberties? Why or why not?
- In October 2005, select provisions of the USA Patriot Act are scheduled to sunset. Do you support a renewal of these provisions and/or an expansion of the Patriot Act?
- In the wake of the horrific events of September 11, 2001, Congress quickly passed the USA Patriot Act, which gave the federal government expanded powers to fight terrorism. Some of the expanded powers, however, run counter to constitutionally guaranteed freedoms. Do you support the bi-partisan Security and Freedom Ensured (SAFE) Act (S. 1709/H.R. 3352), which addresses some of the most problematic provisions of the Patriot Act?
- The Patriot Act authorizes government officials to obtain data, such as financial, library and medical records of individuals, without notifying the individual that such information had been sought. Do you believe that this kind of data collection is necessary? If so, what kind of security is in place (or could be put in place) that would protect information held in the government's database from winding up in the wrong hands (i.e., insurance companies or credit card companies)?
- Do you support the Freedom to Read Protection Act (H.R.1157), which will exempt libraries and bookstores from the provision of the USA Patriot Act that allows law enforcement to obtain personally identifiable information regarding patrons without their knowledge and without a subpoena?
Questions for Local Candidates:
- In the wake of the horrific events of September 11, 2001, Congress quickly passed the USA Patriot Act, which provided expanded powers to fight terrorism. Some of the expanded powers are being implemented at the local level. What effect do such federal mandates have upon our local government and upon individuals in our community?
- With state and local budgets tighter than ever before, what trade-offs or sacrifices do you believe will need to be made to keep our community safe in a post-September 11th age?
--Government Director
