From the President

Calendar JANUARY 2018

30 Board of Commissioners Meeting Septic Regulations 9 am Govt Center

FEBRUARY 2018

7 Healthcare and Medical Insurance Policy Review, Part 1 12 noon at Govt Center

8 Board of Commissioners Meeting Senior Services 9 am, Govt Center

26 LWVLC Board Meeting, 9:30 am Lower Level, Govt Center

Find upcoming events, alerts . and other announcements

on Facebook or on our website at LWVLeelanau.org

MISSION STATEMENT

The Leelanau VOTER January 2018

Empowering Voters.

Defending Democracy.

MEMBER CONSENSUS DISCUSSION MARCH 7 At the 2017 state convention, delegates passed a motion to conduct an updated study of the LWVMI Agricultural/Seasonal Worker Position. The one statement we are asked to discuss is as follows:

A person should be allowed to apply for or secure and renew a driver’s license or obtain an

identification card regardless of immigration status.

The choices will be to Agree, Disagree or No Consensus. Our League will hold its consensus discussion on March 7, 2018 at our regular member business meeting following the noon forum. Please plan to attend. The resource materials can be found at LWVMI.org under Member Resources, then Studies. http://lwvmi.org/member/documents/Agriculstudyupdate1-18.pdf

What a Start to the New Year! The League of Women Voters of Michigan not only endorsed the Voter Not Politicians ballot question and filed its own law suit against gerrymandering in federal court, but has now joined with the ACLU, the NAACP and the Michigan League for Public Policy and others in an effort secure placement of a Promote the Vote ballot question on the November 2018 ballot. (see more on page 4) The right to vote in fair elections is the bedrock of democracy. Let’s get to work!

We also continue our advocacy here at the local level. Plan to attend on January 30 when the Board of Commissioners will again take up the Septic System regulation issue and February 8 when the Senior Advisory Committee will present its plan to the Commissioners. Both meetings are at the Government Center at 9 am.

Public support for senior program needs plus potential expansion in the future is essential to the health of our community as is the right to be secure that the septic systems in our county are kept safely working.

See you at our noon February 7 forum” Is Our Healthcare System Broken?”

Best regards,

Marian Kromkowski

Page 2

Is Our Healthcare System Broken? by Marian Kromkowski, President, LWV Leelanau County

We are all part of our country’s healthcare system. Whether we pay for services we consume out of pocket, through our insurance premiums, or through our taxes that fund government programs, it’s hard to ignore the system’s steadily rising costs. It’s also hard to ignore the fact that even with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) many people continue to have no healthcare coverage. Others can’t afford to pay the out of pocket cost and still others currently covered under the ACA face the possibility of losing coverage. We all know many people, if not ourselves, who when faced with a health care concern first ponder “How much will this cost?” How many find themselves sicker than they would have been if treated earlier?

Reports from PBS to Fox News indicate that 30% of Americans are skipping medical attention when they need it because of the cost. The uninsured are also less likely to seek preventive care and services for major health conditions and chronic diseases. Given humans’ basic need for good health we are all invested in having a functioning healthcare system. We know that poor health costs us dearly as individuals and a nation. By definition, a dependable healthcare system would provide accessible and affordable healthcare for everyone.

The League of Women Voters advocates for a healthcare system that provides a basic level of quality healthcare at affordable cost to all U.S. residents. Basic care would include disease prevention, primary care, prenatal, reproductive health, acute long-term care, mental health care, as well as health promotion and education. Healthcare policy goals should include the equitable distribution of services and delivery of care, advancement of medical research and technology, and a reasonable total national expenditure level.

Becoming more informed healthcare consumers is critical to ensuring that we understand what’s required to attain such a system. Forums on February 7 and May 2 will explore these issues.

On February 7 at noon at the Leelanau County Government Center the LWVLC will host Part One of “Is Our Health Care System Broken?” with Kevin Seitz who for 35 years has served in leadership positions in both public and private health insurance entities. He will provide a history of coverage in the US, present a picture of the current insurance market, address the ramifications of federal vs state healthcare systems, list the pros and cons of a free market system and analyze why healthcare is so expensive in the U.S. compared with other developed countries. On May 2, Dr. Barbara Conley, an oncologist and medical consultant, will host Part Two and bring the discussion to a personal and local level. Through her practice she has firsthand knowledge of how good policy results in improved health outcomes. She will also present the findings of interviews of local residents regarding their healthcare coverage. These LWVLC forums are designed to help inform the public about important issues affecting our lives and our country. An informed public is better prepared to participate in our democracy.

Page 3

Jam

es W

ard

LWVLC EQUAL RIGHTS ADVOCACY COMMITTEE REPORT By Jan Frazee, Committee Chair

This LWVLC committee was formed in 2017 as there was considerable interest in looking at women’s rights and human rights after the LWVLC showing of the movie “Equal Means Equal” the fall of 2016 at the Bay Theater.

This past year the committee has studied the ERA “Equal Rights Amendment” which has yet to be ratified by the necessary states to have it become an amendment to the US constitution. The committee co-sponsored along with 12 other local organizations and individuals, a 2nd showing of Equal Means Equal, in October of 2017 to an audience of 200+ persons at the Milliken Auditorium. The positive interest and support of the co-sponsors in efforts to ratify the ERA has resulted in another loosely formed coalition of organizations to take action with a more regional effort.

March is Women’s History month and the LWVLC ERA committee with host the March 7 forum with a presentation about the ERA past, present and future. Action items will be provided for us to support the states that are considering ratification of the ERA this legislative session. Please plan on attending and bring a guest. This committee welcomes LWVLC members and friends who have an interest to join us. Our next committee meeting is after the LWVLC business meeting on February 7th in the lower level of the Government Center.

Most people still do not understand what the ERA is and that WOMEN STILL DO NOT HAVE BASIC CIVIL AND HUMAN RIGHTS GUARANTEED BY THE CONSTITUTION AND WE NEED THEM NOW MORE THAN EVER.

ERA and Voter Registration featured at January 20, 2018 Women’s March in Traverse City

Too many League members marched to name them all. Thank you to Suzanne Hoff, Sam Getsinger, Barb Marsh, BJ Christensen and Marian Kromkowski for helping withVoter Registration table. Jan Frazee for getting the ERA signs and a special Thank You to Lyn Drziwiecki of the Leelanau County Clerk’s Office for being on hand to answer voting questions.

Page 4

OTHER LWVLC Committee UPDATES

Early Childhood Needs and Services: At the last meeting Sara Jane Johnson, Executive Director of the Leelanau Children’s Center presented a program on Early Childhood Services outlining the importance and impact of services to all children, what current resources are found in the County and what we can do to expand/restore services. Sara also has provided this overview to the Leelanau Early Childhood Development Commission (LECDC) the Leland Women’s Civic Club and the Leelanau Children’s Center Board. Chair Sue Miller indicated that their February 16th meeting will focus on developing a plan for presenting a similar presentation to other local groups. A preliminary list of groups to contact is being compiled.

Farm Labor Task Force: The Task Force is busy preparing for a consensus discussion of the updated study of the Agricultural/Seasonal Worker Position that will be held after the monthly forum on March 7. Also on March 7 Marian Kromkowski, Christi Bardenhagen and Barb Krause will speak on Supporting Agricultural Via Public Education and Advocacy at the annual Ag Labor Day at the NW Michigan Horticultural Station. Suzanne Hoff is our Task Force representative who attends the monthly Migrant Resource Council meetings.

Age Friendly Leelanau: Mary Tonneberger has been the League representative meeting weekly with the Senior Opportunities Committee to help prepare a proposal to the Board of Commissioners regarding needed services for elders in Leelanau County. The results of those efforts will be presented by April Missias, Director of Leelanau County Senior Services to the Board of Commissioners on February 8 at 9 am. League members are encouraged to attend and show support for senior program needs plus potential expansion in the future. The BOC will likely to make a decision on millage at special meeting in March.

Voter Service Committee: 2018 will be a big election year. Not only we will be working to pass the Redistricting ballot proposal, our League is contributing to the costs of the LWVMI federal law suit against gerrymandering and will be gathering signatures for placement of a Promote the Vote ballot question on the state ballot. We will host candidate forums and Voter Registration events and distribute Voter Guides to encourage informed votes cast by the greatest number of eligible voters. At our next meeting on February 13 we will divide up tasks. Chair Marian Kromkowski has asked Clerk Michelle Crocker to attend and update us on the new voting machines that will be used in Leelanau this year.

Membership Committee: Chair Martha Shaver has notified the national LWV that we 163 members. Three new members have joined in January but they will be added to our membership roster on February 1st. A Meet and Greet is being planned for March where new and prospective members learn more about the League in a casual, fun gathering.

Page 5

COALITION LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR COMPREHENSIVE ELECTION REFORM

Amendment would make ballot more secure, accessible Promote the Vote campaign: A coalition which includes the League of Women Voters, the ACLU of Michigan and the state and Detroit branches of the NAACP, and the Michigan League for Public Policy filed ballot language January 22 with the Secretary of State's office.

It’s simple – let’s make voting a sure thing. Every eligible person can vote and every vote will count. By making voting more accessible, secure and fair, our democracy will better serve all Americans and our laws will better reflect the will of the people. Everyone – Republicans, Democrats and Independents – deserves to have his or her vote secure and counted.

The AMENDMENT FOR VOTING RIGHTS offers a common-sense approach to safeguarding our elections, puts voters first, and removes barriers for working families:

Protects the right to vote a secret ballot Ensures military service members overseas get their ballots in time for their votes to count Provides all registered voters equal access to an absentee ballot Allows citizens to register to vote closer to Election Day, as the majority of states do Provides voters with the option to vote straight party Automatically registers citizens to vote at the Secretary of State's office unless the citizen declines Creates fair rules that remove barriers and make voting more secure so we the people are heard

on Election Day

"We're all better off when more Americans---Republicans, Democrats and independents---participate in our democracy," said Judy Karandjeff, president of the League of Women Voters of Michigan. "Providing a system that works for all isn't hard; it just common sense." The changes mirror reforms enacted in 40 states that make voting more accessible. Once the ballot language is approved, the coalition has to collect approximately 316,000 signatures to get the measure on the November ballot.

Your action is instrumental to getting our amendment on the 2018 ballot

Promote the Vote Webinar Date: Monday, January 29

Time: 7 p.m.

Go to www.PROMOTETHEVOTEMI.com for more information and to register for the Promote the Vote Webinar.

LWVMI will keep you posted and send out more information. We will need everyone's involvement to make this campaign a success! This is a very exciting

opportunity!

Page 6

OIL & WATER DON’T MIX OUTLINES STEPS FOR STATE LEADERS TO SHUT DOWN LINE 5 Attorney General Bill Schuette, Governor Rick Snyder have a clear path to shut down dangerous, aging pipelines

On January 16, 2018 Oil & Water Don’t Mix outlined five key steps necessary to shut down the 65-year-old Line 5 pipelines in the Straits of Mackinac. The report was released in the absence of plans from state leaders to take timely action on the Line 5 pipelines.

“Attorney General Schuette called for a plan and timetable to shut down Line 5 six months ago, and the State of Michigan still has not produced one,” said Sean McBrearty, campaign coordinator of Oil & Water Don’t Mix (OWDM). “The steps our organization laid out today are clear, straightforward and common sense. The Governor and Attorney General should act without delay to decommission Line 5 in the Straits.”

OWDM leaders noted that Line 5 is not vital to Michigan’s energy needs, as most oil flowing through the pipelines – approximately 90-95 percent of the oil – isn’t produced in Michigan and is shipped to refineries in Ontario. As a result, the pipeline primarily serves as a high-risk shortcut for Canadian oil that starts and ends its journey in Canada.

The plan to decommission Line 5 addresses two additional issues: propane delivery in the Upper Peninsula and a strategy to transport the small amount of oil produced in the Lower Peninsula to refineries. Solutions exist to “bridge the gap” as Michigan transitions to clean sources of energy, which are increasing their market share in the transportation and heating sectors.

“There are clear, easily adaptable alternatives to using a 65-year-old Great Lakes pipeline for the transport of oil through Michigan and the Straits of Mackinac,” said Liz Kirkwood, executive director of For Love of Water (FLOW). “Allowing Enbridge to continue operating a decades-old pipeline as it repeatedly misleads state leaders and violates its easement commitments simply isn’t the answer. There is a commonsense path forward on this issue, and the Governor and Attorney General need to act now.”

The new report from OWDM, which details five clear steps to decommission Line 5, is available at http://www.oilandwaterdontmix.org/a_clear_plan_to_decommission_line_5 A summary of the OWDM’s five steps:

1. The Attorney General or Governor immediately files a legal action against Enbridge to enforce ongoing violations of the Easement Agreement pursuant to public trust law.

2. Governor Snyder directs the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) to examine alternatives for providing propane to the Upper Peninsula.

3. Governor Snyder directs the MPSC to examine alternatives for transport of light crude oil produced in northern Michigan to refining operations.

4. MPSC moves forward with alternatives to meet Michigan’s needs.

5. Line 5 is disassembled and removed from the Straits and state has a plan for the removal of the rest of Line 5.

The League of Women Voters of Michigan is a coalition member of Oil and Water Don’t Mix. Tricia Denton from our League is the

LWVMI’s representative. She can be reached at tricia@tuque.com

Page 7

LWVLC Energy and Natural Resources Committee has been focusing on…… 1….the progress and events related to the two 65 year old aging Enbridge Lines #5 carrying 32 million gal. of crude oil under the waters of the Straits of Mackinac each day. The pipelines also cross numerous Mi. tributaries of the Great Lakes. 2….the Septic system issue resulting in contamination of local water sources (lakes, rivers, streams, groundwater) in Leelanau County. We continue to communicate with the Leelanau County Health Dept. and Board of Commissioners urging the development of local rules to address this issue. Attend and make an educated public comment on Jan. 30 at 9:00 AM at the Board of Commissioners meeting. 3…..planning for the June 6 general membership meeting. Dr. Lisa Del Buono and other doctors from Munson Medical Center will present on the “Serious impacts on public health from burning fossil fuels and climate disruption” and actions people can take to minimize those impacts on families, friends and communities. 4….plans for a presentation on permaculture/organic agriculture followed by a 2018 Organic Food Harvest Tour in the fall of Leelanau County sites engaged in these activities. 5…..promoting renewable energy...especially local solar as an important step in diminishing the use of fossil fuel-generated energy which adds greenhouse emissions into our atmosphere. We will partner with Northport Energy for a Solar Presentation/Solar Tour in April. Also solar will hopefully be part of the zero net energy, low income homes to be built in Northport under the REACH program. Graduate students from U of M will be doing some Leelanau-wide studies of solar systems, municipal rules, regulations, & language that promote renewable energy. 6....develop “LWVLC Annual Award” to go to a business and/or individual or nonprofit which has made significant progress in developing/using green energy and protecting the unique natural resources of Leelanau County. Also develop an Energy and Natural Resources Calendar...suggestions for each week an advocacy/action related to our Natural Resources position….possibly with an award for anyone completing a designated percentage of the suggestions each year. 7…..plastic pollution….one time use of plastic objects which are not recycled. ISEA‘s trawls of Lake Michigan waters have yielded significant numbers of micro-fibers (which sequester toxins) all of which enter aquatic and terrestrial food chains...effecting even humans. Requesting restaurants and schools not to use plastic straws is just one activity many are doing. Plastic is a by-product of oil….and has similar impacts on life as oil spills. Manufacturing, and disposing, of plastics also adds significant carbon emissions to the atmosphere. 8….further researching the importance of biological diversity as insurance and a buffer against future systems failures resulting especially from changing climate and overpopulation. More than half of Earth’s living organisms have been lost in the last 40 years and the rate of extinction of species amounts to about 200 each DAY. Since humans depend on ecosystem services and diverse biological systems, it is incumbent that this issue be addressed for our own survival. Leelanau County Government and Kay Charter’s Saving Birds Thru Habitat, along with many partners, are initiating a new project….“Leelanau Goes Native” to promote the use of native species. Saving and increasing local native biological diversity is a win-win for all. 9…..potential alternate ways of removing undesirable critters from residential homes and agricultural pets without using toxic chemical sprays. These toxic sprays have unintended consequences which often result in the loss of pollinating insects, birds and many other animal species, as well as adding contaminants to our water.

By Ann McInnis, co-Chair of ENR Committee

Page 8

Officers:

Marian Kromkowski President

Christi Bardenhagen Vice President

Nancy Duck Treasurer

Joan Hunault Secretary

Upcoming Committee Meetings Energy and Natural Resources February 7,

10 am, Conf. room 1, Govt Center.

Equal Rights Advocacy (ERA) February 7 ,

2 pm, Lower Level, Govt. Center.

Voter Service February 13, 10:30 , Conf.

room 1, Govt Center

Early Childhood Needs and Services

February 16, noon, Munnecke Room at

Leland Library.

Farm Labor Task Force Ag Worker

consensus March 7, 1 pm Lower Level, Govt.

Center

Directors:

Tricia Denton

Sharon Golm

Barb Krause

Jane Packard

Chris Palmer

Peter Wolcott

Beth Chiles

Sue Miller

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS

Leelanau County P.O. Box 519 Suttons Bay, MI 49682

LWVLeelanau@gmail.com

President Trump https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact Switchboard: 202-456-1414 Senator Gary Peter

724 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-6221

https://www.peters.senate.gov/contact/email-gary

Senator Debbie Stabenow

731 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-4822

https://www.stabenow.senate.gov/?p=contact US Representative Jack Bergman 414 Cannon HOB

Washington, DC 20515

Phone: 202-225-4735

https://bergman.house.gov/contact/

Governor Rick Snyder P.O. Box 30013 Lansing, Michigan 48909 (517)-373-3400 (517)-335-7858 - Constituent Services FAX: 517-335-6863

State Senator Darwin Booher P.O. Box 30036 Lansing, MI 48909-7536 (517) 373-1725 Fax (517) 373-0741 SenDBooher@senate.michigan.gov State Representative Curt Vanderwall S-1385 House Office Building P.O. Box 30014 Lansing, MI 48909 Phone: (517) 373-0825 CurtVanderWall@house.mi.gov Attorney General Bill Schuette G. Mennen Williams Building 525 W. Ottawa St. P.O. Box 30212 Lansing, MI 48909 Phone (517)-373-1110 miag@michigan.gov

HAVE A CONCERN? WANT TO SAY THANKS? WANT TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION? CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE

Contacts for All Elected County Officials at www.leelanau.cc/directory.asp

LWVLC BOARD 2017-2018

WELCOME OUR NEWEST MEMBERS Lea Ann Sterling

Jeff And Susan Kessler LWVLC Membership Form at

LWVLEELANAU.org/join_form.html

Send checks to

Nancy Duck, Treasurer P.O. Box 992 Leland, MI 49654

Single Membership is $60. Household Membership is $90. Make your check out to LWVLC.

SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE FOR DUES FROM THE BARBARA REINERT MEMORIAL FUND.

Contact Barb Marsh for an application blmarsh@hotmail.com

MAKING DEMOCRACY WORK!