Help Spread the Word—Register, Visit VOTE411.org, and Vote!

Dear Friends of Democracy,

The League of Women Voters of Ashland & Bayfield Counties (LWV/ABC) is encouraging community members to vote on August 12th. We need your help in engaging people to GET TO the polls and VOTE.  

The LWV/ABC is a nonpartisan organization whose main objective is to promote political responsibility through the informed and active participation of all citizens in government at all levels, but especially locally.

We ask that you help spread this public service announcement through grass roots efforts

• word of mouth
• hang your own vote flyers in community and gathering centers such as churches, supermarkets, etc.
• if you send out a weekly newsletters, social media, and/or e-blasts—please include this message.

Our message is very clear:

 “Let your voices be heard—Support the Democratic Process—Vote August 12”

In your efforts, you may want to include the LWV website VOTE411.org. It  is a "one-stop-shop" for election related information. An important component of VOTE411.org is the polling place locator, which enables users to type in their address and retrieve the poll location for the voting precinct in which that address is located.

In addition, it provides nonpartisan information to the public with both general and state specific information on the following aspects of the election process:

·         Absentee ballot information

·         Ballot measure information (where applicable)

·         Early voting options (where applicable)

·         Election dates

·         Factual data on candidates in various federal, state and local races

·         General information on such topics as how to watch debates with a critical eye

·         ID requirements

·         Polling place locations

·         Voter registration forms

·         Voting machines

We encourage you to explore our newly launched website.  It has the link above and Wisconsin Public Radio’s audio panel discussion for both the assembly and senate.

We thank you for your help and efforts in keeping democracy alive in the region.

Regards,  

Madelaine Herder

President, on behalf of League of Women Voters of Ashland & Bayfield Counties

Take Action: Fight Climate Change

This was emailed to members on July 28, 2014, by Elisabeth MacNamara, President of LWV.

In June, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced a proposal to set the first-ever limits on carbon pollution from existing power plants. This week, the EPA will hold public hearings in four major cities to obtain feedback on this historic regulation. 

Add your voice to those attending these hearings in person by submitting your comment to the EPA in supporting their proposal today!  

The EPA’s proposal will protect future generations from unchecked climate change. Power plants are responsible for 40 percent of the carbon pollution in the United States—making them the single largest source of that pollution in the country. The unlimited dumping of carbon pollution is the chief cause of climate change. Reducing the amount of carbon pollution from power plants is a life-saving measure that will protect our children, our nation and the world from the devastating effects of climate change. 

Raise your voice! Tell the EPA you support limiting carbon pollution from power plants.

This week, the EPA will take the next step to advance this proposal by holding public hearings in Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Denver and Washington, D.C. We expect big polluters to turn up at these and hearings, and we know they will make every effort to weaken the final content of this rule. We must continue to voice our support for this life-saving measure. Together, we can make sure that this historic, groundbreaking regulation will have a positive impact on the public health of our children, seniors and families.

We’ve seen an incredible response from League members in support of this regulation, but we still need you to raise your voice. Tell the EPA you support their groundbreaking proposal to limit carbon pollution from existing power plants.

In League,

Elisabeth MacNamara
President, League of Women Voters

EPA Sets New Limits on Carbon Pollution

This was emailed to members on June 2, 2014, by Elisabeth MacNamara, President of LWV.

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This morning, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced a proposal to set the first-ever limits on carbon pollution from existing power plants. Like the previous proposal to limit carbon pollution from new power plants, this proposal is a game changer that will protect us from the health risks and impacts of climate change.

Take Action: Tell the EPA you support their groundbreaking proposal to limit carbon pollution from existing power plants.

Power plants are responsible for 40 percent of the carbon pollution in the United States—making them the single largest source of carbon pollution in the country. The unlimited dumping of carbon pollution is the chief cause of climate change. Reducing the amount of carbon pollution from power plants is a life-saving measure that will protect our children, our nation and the world from the devastating effects of climate change.

The EPA’s proposal will protect future generations from unchecked climate change. 

Take Action: Submit a public comment in support today!

We have a moral obligation to our children and future generations to address the primary cause of climate change. Currently we limit how much mercury, arsenic, soot and other air pollution power plants can dump into our air, but there are no limits on carbon pollution. We must stand in the way as big polluters continue to drop unlimited amounts of carbon pollution into the air without penalty or regard for the public health impacts on children, seniors and families.

Raise your voice! 

Take Action: Tell the EPA you support limiting carbon pollution from power plants.    

In League,

Elisabeth MacNamara
President, League of Women Voters

Enbridge, the Canadian pipeline company, is seeking a Wisconsin DNR permit to expand its facility in Superior

WHAT: Enbridge, the Canadian pipeline company, is seeking a Wisconsin DNR permit to expand its facility in Superior — and TRIPLEthe capacity of their line 61, which runs south from Superior to Delavan, WI, and on to Illinois. The expansion could triple the capacity and includes 3 new storage tanks on Lake Superior, modifying the two existing storage tanks, increasing pumping pressure at 3 stations and installing 9 new pump stations. 

WHAT"S AT STAKE: Line 61 crosses through Wisconsin from Superior to Flanagan, IL and will include new pumping stations (in Hawthorne, Ladysmith, Owen, Marshfield, Minong, Stone Lake, Adams, Portage, and Waterloo) and increased pumping pressure at existing stations (Sheldon, Vesper, and Delavan).  This puts a number of our water bodies at risk, from Castle Rock Lake, the Rock River, Lake Koshkonong, the Flambeau River, and most importantly, Lake Superior and the Great Lakes, which provide drinking water for 42 million people.  A spill could devastate these waterways, and the jobs and economy that depend on them.

Take Action:  Please make your public comment on this DNR air pollution construction permit number 13-DCF-129 by email or regular mail by the comment deadline of May 18, 2014. 

Email your comments to: Don C. Faith, III, at don.faithiii@wisconsin.gov 

Mail your comments to:

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources,

Bureau of Air Management,

101 S. Webster Street, Box 7921

Madison, WI 53707-7921

Attn: Don C. Faith, III

For more information, please visit http://350madison.wordpress.com/tar-sands/ and http://wisconsin.sierraclub.org/Involve/Line61.asp.

Thanks for your attention to this important issue and your help in keeping our waters and state free of tar sands oil pollution! Mary