Work in progress. Staging space for League statements.

The documents linked to these statements have not been moved to the new site.

Read LWVDC positions and statements in the following areas:

Government Responsibilities and Procedures
Administration of Justice
Social Policy
Natural Resources
School Districts

Government Responsibilities and Procedures

Oral testimony to the Dane County Board of Supervisors Executive Committee and Dane County Board of Supervisors on Resolution 138: Amending The Capital Budget To Fund A Concept Plan For A Secure County Elections Facility. Wendy Hathaway testified for information only on behalf of LWVDC on August 18, 2022.
Oral testimony during the Wisconsin Legislature joint session for a public hearing on its congressional and legislative redistricting maps. Joan Schwarz testified on behalf of LWVDC in opposition, October 28, 2021
Statement made virtually to the first meeting of the City of Madison Ad Hoc Redistricting Committee in support of expediting the timeline for drawing ward and district maps. August 12, 2021 (Watch the meeting here. Caryl Terrell makes the statement at 13:50 in.)
Email to City of Madison Mayor, Common Council & Sustainable Madison Committee in support of SMC PFAS Recommendations. May 7, 2021
Oral statement to WI Supreme Court in opposition to rule change petition 20-03; the proposal would give the WI Supreme Court original jurisdiction in all redistricting litigation January 14, 2021 (Watch the proceedings on Wisconsin Eye. The hearing on this petition begins at 32:30 on the recording. Joan Schwarz, attorney, testified against the rule change on behalf of LWVDC. She testifies at 2:11:50 on the recording.)
Email to Fitchburg Council in support of additional polling site September 3, 2020 (Updated September 17, 2020)
Email to Dane County Clerk requesting that all municipalities be provided with masks to offer voters who come to a polling place without a mask. August 5, 2020
Email to Dane County Personnel and Finance Committee urging support of resolution to fund voter outreach to address Covid-19 voting barriers July 6, 2020 (Also sent to full County Board on July 7, 2020)
Email to Dane County Board Chair and Executive requesting video access to virtual meetings for members of the public June 29, 2020
Email to Madison Mayor requesting video access to virtual meetings for members of the public June 23, 2020
Request to Madison Common Council to support Madison City Clerk’s Budget request for 2020 October 17, 2019
Request that Mayor Rhodes-Conway support Madison City Clerk’s budget request for 2020 May 7, 2019
Statement to Sun Prairie Committee of the Whole supporting budget amendment to improve elections February 6, 2019
Statement to Wisconsin Legislature Joint Committee on Finance opposing extraordinary session legislation December 3, 2018
Statement to the Dane County Board Budget Hearing in support of efforts at making engaging citizens in public meetings September 13, 2018
Letter to US DoT in support of Madison's civil rights complaint  January 10, 2018
Statement at press conference in support of Madison's civil rights complaint against WisDOT for DMV move January 4, 2018
Response from Judge Peterson December 1, 2017
Letter to Judge James Peterson about voter photo ID concerns November 28, 2017
Message sent to County Board President Sharon Corrigan and Supervisor Heidi Wegleitner (among others) as part of an email discussion about greater public access to county committee deliberations November 14, 2017
Letter to members of the Personnel and Finance Committee re funding for voter ID education November 14, 2017
Correspondence with UW–Madison Chancellor's Office regarding access to student voter IDs July 25–November 9, 2017
Statement to the Dane County Board in support of temporary suspension of Wisconsin's voter ID law October 26, 2017
Statement to the Dane County Board in support of recording all meetings of standing committees October 24, 2017
Request for Madison Common Council to sponsor a budget amendment for bus service to new DMV location October 17, 2017
Request that Mayor Soglin ensure convenient bus service to DMV at new Excelsior Drive location September 18, 2017
Request that Mayor Soglin adequately fund the Madison City Clerk's Office August 1, 2017
Request that Mayor Soglin adequately fund the Madison City Clerk's Office August 1, 2016
Statement to the Dane County Board in support of the Independent Citizen Redistricting Commission September, 2016
Statement to the Dane County Board in support of Resolution 32 ALLOWING HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS TO USE COUNTY DESIGNATED ADDRESSES FOR THE PURPOSES OF RECEIVING AN ID. June, 2016 (Based on national position on Voting Rights.)
Testimony at Hearing of Dane County Redistricting Subcommittee November, 2015 (Based on state positions on Apportionment.)
Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) January, 2005

Administration of Justice

Statement to City of Madison Civilian Police Oversight Board (July 27, 2023)  Urging timely and complete notice and agendas for PCOB and subcommittee meetings.

Email to City of Madison Police Civilian Oversight Board (June29,2022) Urging accelerated schedule for summary of community conversations.

Email to City of Madison Police Civilian Oversight Board (January 5, 2022) Supporting expansive interpretation of PCOB’s special rules concerning public comment.

Email to City of Madison Police Civilian Oversight Board (September 15,2021) Supporting inclusion of policy questions in PCOB facilitated community discussions.

Email to City of Madison Police Civilian Oversight Board (April 12, 2021) Urging better documentation of agenda items and decisions. Follow-up email (June 7, 2021)

Email to all City of Madison Police Civilian Oversight Board (January 11, 2021) Suggestions concerning Special Rules for the Police Civilian Oversight Board Meetings.

Email to City of Madison Equal Opportunities Commission (August 13, 2020) supporting ordinances establishing Civilian Oversight Board and Independent Monitor. The same email was adapted and sent to the Madison Public Safety Review Committee (August 10, 2020 & August 25, 2020, Madison Common Council Executive Committee (August 26, 2020), Madison Common Council (August 31, 2020)

Email to all City of Madison alders  (August 4, 2020)  supporting referral of Police Oversight ordinances to appropriate city committees.

Email to Common Council Executive Committee (August 4, 2020)  We urge the CCEC to place on file some outdated ordinance drafts that would delay consideration of police reform.

Email to City of Madison alders (July 29,2020). We urge the Alder Workgroup for MPD Civilian Oversight to follow the recommendations of the Ad Hoc Committee in establishing the membership of the Civilian Oversight Board, instead of constructing a complex process which we believe will add confusion and delay in establishing the Board.

Email to City of Madison alders (June 15, 2020). We urge the members of the Council to support a resolution which creates a workgroup to develop ordinance and procedures creating Independent Civilian Oversight of the Madison Police Department.

Email to City of Madison Finance Committee (June 9, 2020). We urge the members of the Finance Committee to support a resolution which creates a workgroup to develop an ordinance and procedures creating Independent Civilian Oversight of the Madison Police Department.

Email to City of Madison mayor and Finance Committee (October 21, 2019). We urge the members of the Finance Committee to defeat the amendment to the 2020 City budget which would delete funding for the police auditor.

Email to City of Madison mayor and all alders concerning Police Policy and Procedure Review Ad Hoc Committee (July 29, 2019). We support the recommendation for an independent monitor and a civilian oversight board for the City of Madison Police Department.

Comment on Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau (ICEB) proposed rule Apprehension, Processing, Care, and Custody of Alien Minors and Unaccompanied Alien Children (October 30, 2018).

Statement to Madison Common Council concerning the final report of the Madison Police Department Policy and Procedure Review Ad Hoc Committee (October 30, 2018). We urged the council to fund a service contract for a final report of the committee to be written.

Statement to the Madison Police Department Policy and Procedure Review Ad Hoc Committee (July 26, 2018).We urged the committee to request that staff track the committee’s decisions as it develops its report to the Common Council, so that the committee and the public can see what the committee is deciding.

Letter to the Dane County Board related to the Dane County jail and related items (October 30, 2017)

Letter to Dane County Executive Joe Parisi about funding a restoration center (July 28, 2017)

Statement presented to the joint meeting of the Public Protection and Judiciary and the Health and Human Needs Committees of the Dane County Board of Supervisors regarding plans for the Dane County Jail (June 6, 2017)

The League presented a statement to the City of Madison Public Safety Review Committee on May 9, 2017, and also to the Equal Opportunities Commission on May 11, 2017, supporting the report of the President's Work Group on Police and Community Relations. A slightly modified version was presented to the Madison Common Council on May 17, 2017. This statement was based on state league positions on Law Enforcement “Support of: Law enforcement policy locally developed by cooperative efforts of citizens and law enforcement agencies using state guidelines, but reflecting local needs.” and Equal Rights “Support for equal rights for all regardless of race, color. . .disability. . ." and on national positions on Social Policy:  “Secure equal rights and equal opportunity for all.  Promote social and economic justice, and the health and safety of all Americans.”

Statement to the Madison Common Council supporting the proposed review of Madison Police Policies and Procedures. This statement was based on state positions on law enforcement and equal rights, and national positions on Social Policy: “Promote social and economic justice, and the health and safety of all Americans.” (June 7, 2016)