Hill Bulletin.

The second session of the 109th Congress promises much work for the League on issues that concern us. High on our list is the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which the LWVUS Board added to our 2005 advocacy priorities at its October meeting. The spotlight on corruption in recent months will color consideration of challenges to the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974 and the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 that are sure to heat up in 2006. We continue to work on redistricting reform and civil liberty issues. The League is also pushing for continued election reform funding under the Help America Vote Act (HAVA).

The LWVUS Board meets in late January (after this issue is mailed to you). At that meeting, the Board will determine the 2006 advocacy priorities. Because The National Voter is published just three times yearly, we strongly urge you to check the League Web site (www.lwv.org; click on "Take Action") periodically for the most current information on the League's priority issues and current action opportunities. We also urge you to sign up for the Grassroots Lobby Corps to receive action alerts by e-mail (see box at the end of Hill Bulletin).

VOTING RIGHTS 

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) which banned discrimination in voting is expected to be reviewed by the House and Senate in 2006. House hearings were already underway at the close of 2005.

Key provisions (Section 5 and Section 203) of this landmark legislation are due to expire in August 2007. Section 5 requires jurisdictions with a history of discrimination to obtain Justice Department approval before implementing changes to voting practices and procedures. Section 203 provides for bilingual voting materials and assistance to voters in communities where that is needed.

Widely viewed as one of our most successful civil rights laws, the VRA outlaws discriminatory practices in elections and protects the rights of minority voters. Americans are proud of the Voting Rights Act and rely on it to protect the essential expression of our democracy, the citizen's right to vote.

The League strongly supports reauthorization and renewal of the expiring VRA provisions. Section 5, the preclearance provision, and Section 203, the language assistance provision, have been effective, but are still needed and must be reauthorized. Further-more, the VRA must not be weakened by any amendments; rather it must be strengthened and restored.

Under the VRA, instances of voter discrimination have decreased, but some minority voters still confront barriers when exercising their right to vote. There have been attempts to dilute the strength of minority voters in unfair redistricting, as well as reports of election officials harassing minority voters and a lack of bilingual ballots for citizens who are limited English proficient. We must reauthorize Sections 5 and 203 to continue to provide a strong deterrent to and the necessary oversight against persistent voting rights violations.

What You Can Do:

Tell your Senators and Representative to support reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM 

Presidential Public Financing legislation is being sponsored by Sens. John McCain (R AZ) and Russell Feingold (D WI) in early 2006. This bipartisan bill to save presidential public financing is crucial.

Both major candidates for U.S. President in 2004 opted out of the presidential public financing system in the primaries for the first time since its establishment. The dollars raised and spent in 2004 broke previous records, showing that presidential public financing is in deep trouble and measures must be taken now for 2008. (See The National Voter, p. 9, June 2004.)

There are important reasons for the presidential financing system. Reasonable spending limits for presidential primary and general elections provide the opportunity for competitive races to occur without turning the elections into a nonstop arms race for private contributions and putting presidential candidates on the special interest "auction" block. An effective presidential primary financing system provides the funds necessary to ensure that serious and lesser-known candidates have the resources to communicate their views and an opportunity to compete for their parties' nomination, so that it does not simply default to nationally-known "frontrunners." An effective system for matching small contributions with public funds increases the importance and role of small donors in presidential elections and diminishes the importance of larger donors, influence-seeking big money in particular.

What You Can Do:

Urge your Senators and Representative to save presidential public financing by supporting this bipartisan presidential public financing legislation.

Fundamental protections to our election process were put into place by the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974 and the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002. The challenges to these two important laws continue in 2006.

Several important reforms, hard-won responses to the Watergate scandals of the 1970s and the fundraising abuses of the 1990s, are in jeopardy. H.R. 1316, cosponsored by Mike Pence (R IN) and Albert Wynn (D MD), would repeal key protections.

The Pence-Wynn legislation lifts the ceiling on individual contributions--allowing upwards of $3 million to be given by a single individual--and invites the corrupting influence of enormous campaign contributions back into elections. Members of Congress, the President and federal candidates could solicit these huge contributions and direct where they are spent.

What You Can Do:

Tell your Representative to oppose H.R. 1316 and protect our election process.

In contrast to H.R. 1316 above, the bill H.R. 513, cosponsored by Reps. Christopher Shays (R CT) and Martin Meehan (D MA), closes a major loophole that allows unlimited contributions from corporations, unions and wealthy individuals to political groups that are tax-exempt under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code.

In the 2004 elections, FEC negligence allowed these "527" organizations to raise millions of dollars of unlimited soft money. "527" groups are self-declared political organizations. They should not be operating free from the federal campaign finance laws that apply to candidates, political parties and others that participate in federal election.

This bipartisan legislation requires all "527s" to register with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) as political committees and thus abide by the source and size limitations that apply to all other political committees. Neither organizations with annual receipts of less than $25,000 nor those focused on state and local candidacies and issues would be covered. The legislation does not apply to 501 (c) organizations.

What You Can Do:

Urge your Representative to cosponsor H.R. 513 and require all "527s" to be treated the same as all other political committees.

ELECTION REFORM

The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA), still awaits full funding. Congress generously appropriated $3 billion between FY03 and FY04, but no money for payment to the states was appropriated in FY05. To date, $727 million of HAVA authorized funding remains unappropriated. States and localities need these funds to complete implementation of HAVA requirements.

State officials have incorporated the federal amounts Congress promised when they developed their HAVA implementation budgets and plans. According to a state survey, lack of federal funding will result in many states scaling back their voter and poll worker initiatives.

The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) did receive full funding in FY05. Now, it is essential that the EAC receive full FY06 funding for its important work. The supporting resources from the EAC are crucial in aiding states, localities and civic organizations in their work on HAVA implementation.

What You Can Do:

Tell your members of Congress to appropriate the $727 million of HAVA authorized funding and fully fund the important work of the EAC in 2006 so that the vital work on HAVA implementation can be completed.

REDISTRICTING

The League is committed to reforming the redistricting process. Integral to this commitment is the League's partnership with The Campaign Legal Center, The Council for Excellence in Government and other organizations. Their recent report, The Shape of Representative Democracy, (accessible at www.lwv.org) presents procedural principles and recommends substantive standards for redistricting.

The LWVUS is coordinating with all levels of the League in this long-term effort to reform the unfair partisan redistricting practices used in many states.

What You Can Do:

Work through your local and state Leagues on redistricting reform.

CIVIL LIBERTIES

As we approached the end of 2005, Congress was still working on reauthorization of the USA PATRIOT Act. At this writing, controversies over the bill are still unresolved and the final outcome is unpredictable. When you receive this Voter in late January, it is possible that Congress will have reauthorized the PATRIOT Act before adjournment. On the other hand, it is also possible that Congress might extend the December 31, 2005, deadline for expiration of certain provisions and the bill still could be in conference in January.

The latest version of the bill, as we go to press, provides for more government secrecy in the name of homeland security and anti-terrorism without the checks and balances needed to protect civil liberties. Medical, banking or library records of Americans can still be obtained by law enforcement without necessary safeguards.

The League continues to fight hard in opposition to this reauthorization bill. It makes most of the sunsetting provisions permanent and extends three of the most controversial provisions. This bill does not sufficiently protect civil liberties. It fails to restore checks and balances taken away by the USA PATRIOT Act.

What You Can Do:

Check the League Web site and if Congress has extended the expiration deadline into 2006, urge your members of Congress to oppose reauthorization unless the checks and balances are restored.

Join the Grassroots Lobby Corps and make a difference! Stay informed and take action with the League on important upcoming battles for responsible federal policy. To sign up to receive action alerts by e-mail go to www.lwv.org and click on "Take Action." It takes just a few minutes a month to make your voice heard.