League Mission
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

CATT (Citizen Action Toolkit)
Named after the League's founder, Carrie Chapman Catt. A central part of the mission of the League of Women Voters is to encourage the active and informed participation of citizens in their government.  To that end, the League has created this easy-to-use resource that enables citizens to find a wealth of information about our state and federal governments.  

Use our toolkit to contact your elected officials, or to send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Support League issues with just a few clicks of your mouse or take a moment to craft a letter of your own. Sign up for action alerts on the issues that are important to you. Click on the link above to make your voice heard!!!

This web page is in the process of being updated to reflect League positions, underlying educational materials, and League action for each of the areas in which we operate. It functions both as an educational resource for the casual observer and a more comprehensive resource for those actively involved in advocacy.

It is organized by issue area. Issues will be listed as they are added. For further information about specific issues, click on the issue of interest.

EDUCATION

• EDUCATION FINANCE
• CHARTER SCHOOLS
• REAL PROPERTY TAXATION

REDISTRICTING

REAL PROPERTY TAXATION

• THE STAR PROGRAM
• REAL PROPERTY TAX CIRCUIT BREAKER RELIEF

• Open Book NY-- Office of the State Comptroller
  openbooknewyork.com
  
  
• Project Sunlight – NYS Office of the Attorney General, A Public Integrity Initiative
  sunlightny.com
  
  
• SeeThrough NY— Empire Center for NYS Policy, A Project of the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research  (1/28/2009)
  seethroughny.net
  

• Testimony Before Joint Budget Hearing on Local Government/General Government Concerning Budgeting of the Board of Elections (2/8/2010)
• Testimony before the NYS Senate Committees on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction, Judiciary, Codes and Veterans and Military Affairs (12/16/09)
  To address IOLA funding and the future of Civil Legal Services in NYS.
• Testimony before NYS Senate Elections Committee (11/30/09)
  To address oversight of the 2009 elections, the pilot program using the new voting equipment and to address other issues relating to HAVA implementation. Includes summary of League survey on new voting machines.
• Testimony Before NYS Assembly Committees Regarding Compliance with HAVA for All Elections (10/22/09)
  Discusses the impact of the enacted 2009-2010 State Budget on New York State’s implementation of the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) on the State Board of Elections, local boards of elections and other public entities that conduct elections, such as school districts, public and association libraries and fire districts.
• Testimony Before NYS Senate Committee on Elections Regarding Implementation of HAVA (10/9/2009)
• Testimony Before NYS Committee on Environmental Conservation Regarding Clean Water (10/1/2009)
  
  
• Testimony Before NYS Assembly Committees on Ethics Reform (6/9/2009)
  
  
• Testimony Before NYS Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance (6/8/2009)
  
  
• Testimony before NYS Senate Committee on Elections on Campaign Finance Reform
  (6/3/2009)
  • Memorandum on Campaign Finance Reform (6/5/2009)
    
    
• Testimony before Senate Ethics Committee (6/2/2009)
  • Memorandum on Ethics Reform (6/5/2009)
    
    
• Testimony to the NYS Senate Elections Committee (5/11/2009)
  
  
• Testimony to NYS Senate Elections Committee (4/24/2009)
  Testimony given  concerning voter registration legislation before NYS Senate Elections Committee.
  
  
• Testimony Before the NYS Senate Temporary Committee on Rules Reform (2/10/2009)
   LWV of Syracuse Metropolitan Area
   
  
• Testimony on Behalf of LWVNYS & NYVV, before the NYC Board of Elections (3/4/2009)
  Testimony in support of two paper ballot marker-optical scan systems being
  considered for adoption by NYC.

• Testimony before the NYS Senate Select Committee on Budget and Tax Reform (12/17/09)
  To urge improved transparency, forecasting and flexibility in New York State's budgetary process.
  
  
• Local Government/General Government (1/28/2009)
  
  
• Transportation (1/28/2009)
  
  
• Healthcare/Medicaid Budget Testimony (2/2/2009)
  
  
• Testimony on Bigger, Better Bottle Bill (3/4/2009)
  Testimony before the Senate Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation
  

• Current and Past Press Releases

Memorandum in Opposition

• Memos in Opposition to S6171 and A9455 (6/1/2010)
  An Act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to removing the debt ceiling cap for the Town of Islip’s Resource Recovery Agency.

Memorandum in Support

• Memorandum in Support of  S8405 and A11588 Concerning Campaign Finance Reform (6/30/2010)
  
  
• Memorandum in Support of S4315 Concerning Global Warming Pollution Control (6/28/2010)
  
  
• Memorandum in Support of A1580B Concerning National Popular Vote Compact
  (6/28/2010)
  
  
• Memorandum in Support of A9110 Concerning the Use of Ultra Violet Radiation Devices by Persons Under 18 years of Age (6/22/2010)
  
  
• Good Government Groups Support Reform of Member Item System or Elimination of Them from Budget (6/23/2010)
  
  
• Memorandum in Support Of: S.5480/Savino (6/15/2010)
• Pay Equity Guide (6/15/2010)s
  
  
• Memo in Support of S.7592A & A.10490A
  Concerning Moratorium on Hydraulic Fracturing  (6/4/2010)
  
  
• Memorandum in Support ofS 5172 Authorizes Persons 17 Years of Age to Act as Poll Inspectors (3/1/2010)
  
  
• Memorandum in Support of S4960 Concerning Application Process for Absentee Ballots (2/25/2010)
  
  
• Memorandum in Support of S1836A to Allow Half-Day Shifts for Polling Place Inspectors (2/23/2010)
  
  
• Memorandum in Support of S5945 Concerning Domestic Violence Absentee Ballot Confidentiality (2/23/2010)
  
  
• Memorandum in Support of S.2868B Concerning Simplification of the Absentee Application Form (2/1/2010)
  
  
• Memorandum in Support of S.6457 and A.9544 Concerning Ethics, Lobbying and Campaign Finance Enforcement Reforms (1/19/2010)
  
  
• Memorandum in Support of Public Defense Act of 2009 (A.8793/S.6002) (11/6/2009)
  To improve the legal services offered to individuals unable to afford counsel in criminal and family courts.
  
  
• Memorandum in Support of A.4015 Affidavit Ballot Serving as Voter Registration
  (6/9/2009)
  
  
• Memorandum in Support of A.5276A Simplify Absentee Ballot Application to Conform
  with NYS Constitution (6/9/2009)
  
  
• Memorandum in Support of A.7347 Providing Additional Time to Apply for an Absentee Ballot (6/9/2009)
  
  
• Memorandum in Support of S.248 Prohibiting the Sale of Flavored Cigarettes
  (6/9/2009)
  
  
• Memorandum in Support of S.5029 Using Certain Buildings At Polling Places
  (6/9/2009)
  
  
• Memorandum in Support of S.5172 Authorizes Persons 17 Years of Age to Act as Poll Inspectors (6/9/2009)
  
  
• S.5000-S.5000/Duane--Tier IV Prescription Drugs
  
  
• S.3164?Duane--Family Health Care Decisions Act
  
  
• A.1224-A/Jeffries--Voter Approval for Modification of Term Limits  
  
  
• A.121/Sampson—Creating a Prescription Drug Discount Program
  
  
• A.777/Paulin--Prohibiting the Sale of Flavored Cigarettes
  
  
• S.248/Fuschillo—Prohibiting Sale of Flavored Cigarettes
  
  
• A.734/Gottfried—Enhance the Availability of Child Health Plus
   
  
• A.5694/Espaillat—Funding for School Based Health Services
  
  
• A.3911/John—Pay Equity
  
  
• S.955/Johnson—Pay Equity
  
  
• S.1002/Perkins—Primary Prevention of Lead Poisoning

• Letter to US Department of Energy Concerning West Valley Demonstration Project and Western New York Nuclear Service Center (3/3/2010)
• Letter to NYS Board of Elections Regarding Treatment of Overvoting in Optical Scan Voting Machines (2/3/2010) 
• Ethics and Campaign Finance Reform Update (1/13/2010)
  On Wednesday, January 13th, leaders in both houses (Assembly majority and minority along with Senate majority) announced an agreement on the reform bill for campaign finance enforcement and ethics reform.  While not everything that the League and our good government colleagues sought, the proposed changes would improve both ethics and campaign finance enforcement and create greater transparency.  "Although this is far from a perfect solution to the reforms needed in Albany, this moves us further toward increased enforcement and more transparency. We will continue coming back to the legislature for stronger campaign finance legislation and other reforms for which the League has long advocated." stated our Legislative Director, Barbara Bartoletti.
  Read more...
• Letter to Bureau of Oil & Gas Regulation, NYSDEC Division of Mineral Resources, Regarding Draft SGEIS (12/30/2009)
  Call to issue strict regulations to mitigate the numerous potential environmental, social, economic and health impacts posed by
  drilling in the Marcellus Shale, to provide sufficient staff to enforce these regulations supported by a severance tax, and to redraft the SGEIS, considering the findings of the new EPA study.
• Good Government Groups Ask State Board of Elections to Investigate Apparent Corporate Contribution Limit Violations (11/5/2009)
• Take Action Now to End the NYS Senate Stalemate (6/19/2009)
• Summary and Comments by LWVNYS Legislative Director Barbara Bartoletti on Recent Events in NYS Senate (6/15/2009)
• Letter to US Attorney on HAVA Compliance
  Letter urging US Attorney's office to wait for complete testing of voting equipment prior to ordering of HAVA compliance. (5/5/09)
• New Statewide Action on LWVUS Climate Change Positions
  The state League has initiated a new statewide action on the issue of Climate Change. Click on the link, Reduction of Greenhouse Gases, for a fact sheet on the issue. Contact
  Roberta Wiernik, LWVNYS Natural Resources Specialist, for more information on how you can help. More information is also available on the LWVUS website at www.lwv.org. (3/31/2009)
• League Launches Campaign Finance Reform Project (6/11/2008)

Aging in the Community? The Future of Long Term Healthcare
League of Women Voters of NYS & The Capital Region Local Leagues
Panel Discussion Webcasts Spring 2009