Issue: Clean Elections

For more information and resources visit the WV Citizens for Clean Elections website.

151 posts found, showing 20 per page

Newsletter Gary Zuckett February 4, 2019
Capital Eye: Volume 12, Number 4
This week, two contentious bills were moving fast – the Ominous Education Overhaul bill and one putting foster kids into managed care organizations (MCOs). Both will get increased scrutiny as they move to the other side. More
Issues: Clean Elections, Discrimination, Energy efficiency, Event, Healthcare, Water

Newsletter article Julie Archer January 27, 2019
Pro-Democracy Platform Update: Voting Rights Restoration, Court Bills Advancing
As we mentioned last week, several bills have been introduced that help advance the goals of the Pro-Democracy, Anti-Corruption Platform. Two of these bills have started to work their way through the legislative process. More details here, along with a complete list of bills we’re supporting as part of the Pro-Democracy, Anti-Corruption Platform. More
Issues: Civil Justice, Clean Elections

Newsletter   January 21, 2019
Capital Eye Vol. 12 No. 2
Week two at the legislature was a busy one. Meetings with potential bill sponsors, checking daily bills introduced (now totaling 876), monitoring committees as they take up and amend legislation. This is just the daily grind. More here on some of the good, bad, and just plain ugly bills that we’re either promoting or trying to stop here, as well as actions you can take to help end the government shutdown, protect our water and our health, and strengthen our democracy. More
Issues: Budget priorities, Clean Elections, Kids and families, Our children our future, Pollution, Water

Newsletter article Gary Zuckett January 21, 2019
Week Two – Full to Overflowing!
Week two at the legislature was a busy one. Meetings with potential bill sponsors, checking daily bills introduced (now totaling 876), monitoring committees as they take up and amend legislation. This is just the daily grind. Then there are the special events and actions we’re co-sponsoring and/or showing up for. More about the some of these activities, and a short list of the good, bad, and just plain ugly bills that we’re either promoting or trying to stop here. More
Issues: Budget priorities, Clean Elections, Fair taxation, SNAP, Water

Newsletter article Julie Archer January 20, 2019
The Pro-Democracy, Anti-Corruption Platform: Stand Up, Stamp Up for Your Rights
We had a great time last week promoting the Pro-Democracy Anti-Corruption Platform at Kids and Families Day hosted by the Our Children, Our Future (OCOF) campaign. We also encouraged folks to help spread the word about the need to fight the influence of money in politics, and demonstrate support for the solution by stamping their money with messages like “Stamp Money Out of Politics, “Not to Be Used to Buy Elections,” and “Stop the Attack on Voting Rights.” Several bills have been introduced that advance the goals of the platform have been introduced. Learn more here. More
Issues: Clean Elections, Kids and families, Our children our future

Newsletter   January 14, 2019
Capital Eye Vol. 12 No. 1
It's a new year, and a new legislature. In this issue of the Capital Eye, we give you a glimpse at some of the upcoming fights and things to watch for, as well as a list of resources to help you be an informed activist throughout the session. We've only scratched the surface of both the potential damage and opportunities that abound during this current 60-day legislative session, so please stay tuned to our weekly updates. More
Issues: Budget priorities, Clean Elections, Fair taxation, Kids and families, Water, Workers

Citizen Action Group Blog   January 14, 2019
This is What Democracy Looks Like, and You Are In It
The 2018 WV teachers' strike is a recent example of how people power works. We, the people, know how to make WV a better place to live. But we need to fix a broken system. Here's a solution. Help West Virginia Citizens for Clean Elections advance the Pro-Democracy, Anti-Corruption Platform during the 2019 West Virginia Legislative Session. More
Issues: Clean Elections, Kids and families, Our children our future

Action Alert   October 12, 2018
October Events You Don’t Want to Miss
There are several upcoming events in Charleston that offer an opportunity to engage with other folks who are exploring ways to respond to climate change, how to achieve health care for all, and common sense solutions to fight the influence of big money in politics.There are also chances to learn more about and hear directly from the candidates in key races this election (see details here). More
Issues: Civil Justice, Clean Elections, Energy, Fracking, Healthcare

Action Alert   September 4, 2018
Take Action to Save Our Courts
There's still time to make your voice heard. Senator Joe Manchin is continuing to solicit thoughts and concerns as he evaluates Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh ahead of a vote by the full Senate. While Kavanaugh's confirmation will push SCOTUS further to the right, it is quite possible that at the state level a single party, through a pre-planned partisan impeachment process, will seize control of the WV Supreme Court of Appeals for the next 2 years. Take action to save our courts, and if you're in the Charleston area, join us for a community conversation about the Supreme Court impeachments why they matter, and how they affect West Virginians. More
Issues: Civil Justice, Clean Elections, Healthcare

Action Alert   June 7, 2018
Don’t Miss These Climate Change, Fair Courts Events in Charleston
On Tuesday, June 12 celebrate science and honor two U.S. heroes from their work in defense of America at a luncheon hosted by Citizens Climate Lobby WV. The following week (Monday, June 18) WV Citizens for Clean Elections invites you to a training and discussion on the critical role the courts play in protecting our democracy and fundamental rights. We hope you can join us at one or both events. More
Issues: Civil Justice, Clean Elections, Energy, Our children our future, Sustainability

Newsletter   April 24, 2018
Capital Eye Vol. 11, No. 10 – Spring 2018 Edition
In this Capital Eye: 2018 Legislative Wrap-Up, Trump Tax Scam Continues War on Health Care, Power to the People: WV CAG's Awards Dinner & Fundraiser, In Memory of a Big Hearted Water Warrior, Election 2018 (Be Ready to Vote: Voter ID Law Now in Effect, Follow the Money, Constitutional Amendments on the Ballot in November), Energy Efficient West Virginia (EEWV) Updates (FirstEnergy Drops Bid to Sell Pleasants Power Plant & more) More
Issues: Civil Justice, Clean Elections, Energy efficiency, Fair taxation, Healthcare, SNAP, Workers

Newsletter article Julie Archer March 16, 2018
Redistricting Reform Stalls; Election Transparency Fails to Advance
Unfortunately, the two election related bills we most wanted to see pass this session failed to reach the Governor’s desk. A bill to reform the redistricting process – the redrawing of the boundaries of legislative and congressional districts – made significant progress before stalling in the House of Delegates. While a bill to improve election transparency and strengthen disclosure of political spending was never taken up by its assigned committee. Here's is a summary of what happened with these, other election, and ethics bills during the 2018 legislative session. More
Issues: Clean Elections, Our children our future

Newsletter   March 16, 2018
Capital Eye Vol. 11 No. 9 – 2018 Legislative Wrap-Up
The 2018 legislative session is FINALLY over, and this is our wrap-up edition of the Capital Eye. Of the 1,778 bills introduced, 260 made it through the sausage grinder to the other end. They all will be signed, ignored by the governor (and become law without his signature), or vetoed. We’re asking him to veto two of them (we’d prefer he veto scores but that’s not going to happen), so read on for why, and make your calls if so moved. A big THANK YOU to all who came to the Capitol, sent emails, and/or made calls on important legislation, and sent in donations of support. As we pivot to federal issues and work to make sure that voters ‘Remember in November’ we hope you can join us for one or more upcoming events. More
Issues: Clean Elections, Healthcare, Kids and families, Pollution, Poverty, Water, Workers

Newsletter   March 4, 2018
Capital Eye Vol. 11 No. 8
This week, teachers filled the galleries, halls and rotunda of the Capitol, and parents and teachers rallied in support, as the Governor came out of hiding and tried to negotiate an end to the teachers’ strike that has garnered national attention. As we head into the home stretch, the strike continues as a result of the Senate's rejection of the 5% pay raise agreed to by the Governor and approved by the House.  The 2018 legislative session ends at midnight, Saturday, March 10. We can’t wait for the carnage to be over! In the meantime, keep reading for further updates and actions you can take now, and keep an eye out for other critical updates this week. More
Issues: Budget priorities, Civil Justice, Clean Elections, Energy, Healthcare, Poverty, Workers

Newsletter article   March 4, 2018
You, Too, Can Follow the Money
It's a rare day when a committee hearing on a bill before the West Virginia state house makes it into the New York Times and Fox News. In what is now likely a familiar story to most reading this, Lissa Lucas was escorted from the House chamber after being called out of order for reading a list of donations that each of the committee members had taken from interests that stood to benefit from the bill before the committee. Lucas is a candidate running for a House seat in this election, but you don't have to be running for office to get access to the information on campaign donors— you can do it too. Unfortunately, there is a big hole in the information available to the public, and it’s called dark money. West Virginia can and should do better at disclosing these secret and unaccountable sources of political influence, but in the meantime, try out one of these easy tools and take a look at the wealth of information they have on your legislators’ campaign donations. More
Issues: Clean Elections

Newsletter article Julie Archer March 4, 2018
As Redistricting Bill Dies in the House, Commission Proposal Considered in Senate Judiciary Committee
HB 2383, which would specify factors that can (and cannot) consider in the redistricting process, failed to advance before Crossover Day (the deadline for bills to be out of the house of origin). The next day the Senate Judiciary Committee took up a bill (HB 4002) passed by the House of Delegates earlier in the session mandating that the House go to 100 single delegate districts after the 2020 census. In an interesting twist, Senator Stephen Baldwin (D-Greenbrier) offered and amendment to HB 4002 that would incorporate the provisions of a Senate bill (SB 54), a bill he co-sponsored with Senate Judiciary Chair Charles Trump (R-Morgan) and others, which would establish an independent commission to propose redistricting plans. Read more here. More
Issues: Clean Elections

Newsletter   February 26, 2018
Capital Eye Vol. 11 No. 7
Last week was Strike Week at the Legislature, with Thursday and Friday being Day 1 and 2 of a statewide walkout by teachers and school service personnel demanding better wages and a permanent fix to PEIA. On Thursday, more than 5,000 people entered the Capitol through two public access points, with equally large crowds gathering on subsequent days of the ongoing strike. Despite the presence of thousands of outraged teachers and state employees and more pressing issues to deal with, the "bad idea factory" keeps churning undeterred.  More
Issues: Budget priorities, Clean Elections, Discrimination, Education, Energy, Healthcare, Kids and families, Our children our future, Poverty, SNAP, Workers

Newsletter article Julie Archer February 26, 2018
Where Are They Now?
Here's a quick update on on several bills we wrote about last week, including redistricting reform, co-tenancy, and LEEP. More
Issues: Civil Justice, Clean Elections, Energy, Energy efficiency, Fracking

Newsletter article Julie Archer February 18, 2018
Senate Passes Intermediate Court Bill, Judicial Budget Amendment
On Thursday, the Senate passed two measures that could dramatically reshape the judicial system in West Virginia. The first is a proposal (SB 341) that would establish an intermediate court of appeals between the level of circuit court and the state Supreme Court to hear civil appeals, appeals of workers’ compensation claims, abuse and neglect cases and some other administrative appeals. The other measure passed by the Senate (SJR 3) is a proposed Judicial Budget Amendment, which would amend the state constitution to give the Legislature oversight of the judiciary's budget. This is in response to a recent spending scandal involving extravagant renovations to the private chambers of the Supreme Court justices. More details here. More
Issues: Civil Justice, Clean Elections

Newsletter article Julie Archer February 18, 2018
Redistricting Bill Sent to House Floor Without Independent Commission
Establishing a specific list of factors that can (and cannot) consider in the redistricting process, including factors designed to promote partisan fairness and prevent favoritism toward incumbents, is an improvement, these goals would be more easily accomplished if we appointed someone other than legislators to draw legislative district maps. We need to let our delegates know that we want a process that is impartial, transparent, and accountable. This means having an independent redistricting commission lead redistricting efforts, providing ample opportunities for public participation throughout the process, and clear standards to guide the process that ensure equality and fairness. Contact your delegate(s) today and tell them to support fair districts and fair elections. More
Issues: Clean Elections