Hill Bulletin.

The first session of the 109th Congress faces a number of tough issues in a new political climate. Key areas of concern to the League are election reform, civil liberties, campaign finance reform and the environment. The LWVUS Board of Directors meets in late January to develop the League's 2005 legislative priorities.

ELECTION REFORM

Given the serious voting irregularities of Election 2004, the League has called for a thorough investigation of all concerns and allegations in order to develop the necessary policy responses. Congress is expected to hold hearings on Election 2004 to look especially at problems in Ohio, Florida and other key states. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is already conducting inquiries and outside groups such as the CalTech/MIT voting project are expected to weigh in. They will be looking into the problems discussed in this Voter, pp. 4-7.

What You Can Do:

Be prepared to respond to action alerts from the Grassroots Lobby Corps (p. 16 to subscribe).

CIVIL LIBERTIES

This year, Congress will continue consideration of the SAFE Act and provisions of the USA Patriot Act scheduled to sunset in late 2005 ("Liberty vs. Security," p. 8). In the 108th Congress, the League lobbied in support of the Security and Freedom Ensured Act of 2003 (SAFE), which addressed some of the more problematic provisions of the Patriot Act. The League believes that basic civil liberties must be preserved and protected as the nation seeks to guard against threats to national security.

What You Can Do:

Urge your Senators and Reps. to support legislation to strengthen civil liberties.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

The dollars raised and spent in Election 2004 broke previous records, showing that presidential public financing is in deep trouble. Bipartisan legislation to save presidential public financing is being initiated again by members of Congress.

In addition, Federal Election Commission (FEC) negligence allowed a large increase in activity of the so-called 527 political groups in this election. Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Russ Feingold (D-WI), and Reps. Christopher Shays (R-CT) and Marty Meehan (D-MA) have launched a bipartisan effort to make a vital change. To close the FEC-created loophole, the legislation will explicitly state that groups with the major purpose of influencing a federal election must comply with the long existent requirement that they register as political committees with the FEC, disclose their activities and abide by the hard money limits. See pp. 10-12 on Campaign Finance Reform.

What You Can Do:

Urge your Senators and Reps. to support legislation to close the 527 loophole and to save the presidential public funding system.

ENVIRONMENT

The Bush Administration is expected to revive the so-called "Clear Skies" initiative that would substantially weaken public health and environmental protections under the 1990 Clean Air Act, while doing nothing about global warming. For over 30 years, the Clean Air Act has greatly reduced air pollution by setting strong standards to reduce pollution emissions from industrial sources. It has effectively improved public health and protected the environment. "Clear Skies" will move the country backward by delaying deadlines for meeting the health standards in the Clean Air Act, relaxing pollution reduction requirements for power plants and other major pollution sources, and repealing protections for our national parks.

What You Can Do:

Tell your Senators and Reps. to oppose attempts to weaken or delay implementation of the Clean Air Act and that you oppose the "Clear Skies" proposal.

Also expected is new legislation to allow oil drilling in the Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). ANWR is the geographically diverse, pristine, 19.3 million-acre home for numerous animal species. The League and its partners successfully fought against oil drilling in ANWR in previous years. We are prepared to do so again.

What You Can Do:

Tell your Senators and Reps. that drilling in the ANWR is not good energy policy. Urge them to oppose it.

To reach your Senators and Representatives, go to www.lwv.org.

* Click on "Get Involved"

* Click on "Find your Representative"

* Enter your zip code under "ELECTED OFFICIALS," select "Congress," and click on "GO."