of Saginaw County The Voter Newsletter, May 2012 Issue 2011 - 2012 Board of Directors of the Saginaw County League of Women Voters ____________________ Sherrill Smith, President Jane E. Gugino, 1st VP Joanne McGuire, Treasurer Ann M. Hetzner, Secretary Jennie Culberson, Director Mary Hill, Director Dorothy Mull, Director Jo Vitu, Director Leola Wilson, Director Saginaw County LWV Contact: Sherrill Smith 129 N. Alexander Saginaw, MI 48602 Email: [email protected] Phone: 989-791-3889 “The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, it works to increase the understanding of major public policy issues, and it influences public policy through education and advocacy.”

UPCOMING EVENTS

UPCOMING EVENT LWV SAGINAW COUNTY ANNUAL MEETING 5:30 p.m. Social Hour 6:00 p.m. Dinner Thursday, May 17 Saginaw Club “A History of Civil Rights in Saginaw” Leola Wilson, NAACP Saginaw Branch Jennie Culberson, A. Philip Randolph Institute Saginaw At this year’s annual meeting, we will be celebrating the history of the Civil Rights movement in Saginaw by hearing from two of our LWV members – Leola Wilson, President of the NAACP Saginaw Branch Jennie Culberson, President of the A. Philip Randolph Institute Both have a long history of involvement and leadership, not only in civil rights, but in many civic issues. Please join us as they share the history, some anecdotes, and their thoughtful comments about what this means for the future of our community. Please join us as we celebrate the accomplishments of these two distinguished community leaders. Cost will be $30. Please call Janie Gugino at 799-9646 or email her at [email protected] to reserve your place. Select from the following. served with salad and dessert: Sundried Tomato Whitefish Broiled whitefish, northwoods rice blend, seasonal vegetables

LWV Annual Meeting 5:30 p.m., Thursday, May 17 Saginaw Club Invite your neighbors and friends to hear these distinguished speakers!

Grilled Chicken Gnocchi Grilled chicken topped with cheese and gnocchi in garlic cream sauce Grilled Shrimp and Parmesan Potatoes Piped potatoes, tomato concassé, shrimp bisque with asparagus & spinach.

President’s Message May 2012 Sherrill Smith, President

Disclose Act 2012 Seeks to Limit Influence of Money in Politics: A LWUS Action Alert Campaign financing in our nation is corrupting our political system with secret money from special interests and large outside funders.

I am really looking forward to our Annual Meeting. What a wonderful chance to learn about the experiences of Jennie Culberson and Leola Wilson – and about the vision, wisdom and understanding they bring to bear on community issues. It will be a delightful evening. Please consider inviting a guest or two to hear these community leaders.

Already in this election cycle we have seen a slew of money from secret donors, corporations and special interests. If Congress does not act to clean up our election finance system, 2012 will be known as the year of the Super PAC, and voters will be deprived of the information they need to make informed decisions in this election.

Even though our Annual Meeting is considered the end of the year, the work of the LWV will continue over the summer, as we prepare primary voter guides through Vote 411. We will also start educating voters on the new state ID voting laws. Anyone who is willing to work on these projects would be welcome. As soon as details are confirmed, we’ll give you a heads up on our second annual Women’s Equality Day Celebration in August as well.

Congress can act to close the floodgates against secret big-money special interests in our elections. The DISCLOSE Act of 2012 is moving in the Senate and it would require full transparency and let the sunlight in. The DISCLOSE Act is the key that will allow voters to make their own decisions and shine the light on big-money outside spending in this election. The DISCLOSE 2012 Act is carefully crafted to require disclosure by outside groups of large campaign contributions and expenditures – those over $10,000 – and includes valuable “stand-by-your ad” provisions for ads run by such groups. It requires outside groups to certify that their spending is not coordinated with candidates and, very importantly, covers transfers of money among groups so that the actual sources of funds being spent to influence federal elections will be known. Most importantly, it would give voters the information they need to judge for themselves about the advertising and the candidates.

A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of the next generation. James Freeman Clark.

Sherrill Smith Sherrill Smith President, League of Women Voters of Saginaw County ________________________________________________

Nominating Committee Report The proposed slate of the Board of Directors and Officers as presented by the Nominating Committee Chair, Barbara Terwilliger:

President Treasurer Secretary

Sherrill Smith Joanne McGuire Ann Hetzner

2011-2013 2010-2012 2011-2013

Director Director Director Director Director Director Director

Teresa Borowski Barbara Chernow Jennie P. Culberson Janie Gugino Mary Hill Jo Vitu Leola Wilson

2012-2014 2012-2014 2012-2014 2012-2014 2012-2014 2012-2014 2011-2013

Candidates in bold print are to be elected at the Annual Meeting.

Michigan Judicial Selection Task Force Released After a year-long study, the Michigan Judicial Selection Task Force yesterday released its report and recommendations for improving the state’s process for selecting Supreme Court Justices. Led by two veteran Michigan jurists, Supreme Court Justice Marilyn Kelly and Senior Judge James L. Ryan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, the task force called for more transparency, less partisanship and a better informed electorate as elements of an improved Supreme Court selection process. “The current process of selecting justices undermines public trust and confidence in the impartiality and independence of the Michigan Supreme Court,” said Kelly. “Polling has consistently shown that a majority of Michigan voters believes that judicial campaign contributions have influence on the decisions judges make. As the saying goes, perceptions become reality: A judiciary that is not perceived as impartial is a compromised judiciary. That’s not fair to anyone – not to citizens, and not to the judges. Michigan deserves better.” The task force was unanimous in calling for an amendment to the Michigan Campaign Finance Act to require the disclosure of the sources of all campaign spending. The report is available in pdf at http://www.mi-judicialselection.com. Printed copies are available on request through the League of Women Voters of Michigan, whose contact information is included on the same web-page. Among the report’s recommendations: 

Full public disclosure of all sources of electioneering spending

Michigan had the most expensive Supreme Court campaign in the nation in 2010, at $11.4 million. For the period from 2000 through 2010, half of the $42.3 million spent to elect 12 justices was off the books because candidate-focused issue advertisements do not have to be reported. The task force was unanimous in calling for an amendment to the Michigan Campaign Finance Act to require the disclosure of the sources of all campaign spending.  Implementation of an open primary system Michigan citizens vote for justices on the nonpartisan section of the ballot. An open primary election to qualify general election candidates – rather than the nomination by political parties that exists today – would reduce partisanship in an area where it never belonged.  Increased information about Supreme Court candidates A voter education guide produced by the Secretary of State each election cycle would help citizens overcome campaign disinformation and a lack of facts about justice candidates. A citizens’ campaign oversight committee would help citizens evaluate the veracity of campaign claims and understand the legal substance behind claims that are twisted in specious campaign communications.  A nominating commission to recommend candidates for vacancy appointments About half of Supreme Court justices who have served since the adoption of the Michigan Constitution of 1963 first gained their office through unfettered gubernatorial appointment. An advisory nominating commission would provide a bipartisan public vetting by lawyers and non-lawyers of candidates who seek appointment to complete vacated Supreme Court terms.  Elimination of the discriminatory age 70 limitation on judicial candidates The constitutional requirement that prohibits the election or appointment to a judicial office of a person who has reached the age of 70 years is arbitrary and serves no public interest. It should be removed by amendment of the constitution. “Many members of the task force favored moving to a merit-based appointment system for justices. However, that was not a consensus position so it did not rise to the level of a recommendation in the report,” said Ryan. “There was a consensus that partisanship doesn’t belong in Michigan’s highest court – and neither do the influence of special interest groups and undisclosed spending. The practical, common-sense reforms we have recommended will help elevate public trust and confidence in the impartiality of the Michigan judiciary.” In addition to Kelly and Ryan, the Michigan Judicial Selection Task Force comprises conservatives, liberals and independents; lawyers and non-lawyers; business people and experienced campaigners. A full list of task force members is available at http://www.mi-judicialselection.com. \

Join the League of Women Voters! Be Directly Involved in Shaping the Important Issues to Keep Our Community Strong! 

Yes, I want to join the League. o I’m enclosing a check for $55 for an Individual Membership o I’m enclosing a check for $80 for a Household Membership (Membership in the League is not tax-deductible)

  

I would like to make a tax-deductible donation to the Education Fund. Please send me more information about the League of Women Voters I do not with to join right now, but am enclosing a donation of $_____ to Support the League’s activities.

Name(s): __________________________________________________________________ Street Address: ______________________________________________________________ City: _____________________________________ State: _______ Zip code: _____________ Daytime Phone: __________________________ Evening Phone: _______________________ Make your check payable to the League of Women Voters and mail it to: Joanne McGuire, Treasurer 2621 Whitemore Place, Saginaw, MI 48602

THE VOTER is published by the Saginaw County League of Women Voters. Sherrill Smith 129 N. Alexander Saginaw MI 48602 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED