Testimony

LWVPDX POLICIES FOR ADVOCACY

According to LWV policy, the LWVPDX President is the spokesperson for the League. The president approves and/or signs all the Portland League’s public statements. In some circumstances, the president authorizes another knowledgeable League member to present testimony. With such authorization, League members may testify to Portland City Council about important local issues. Our most recent testimony is here.

How LWVPDx Testimony is approved

The League President – with the help of the Action Chair, Board, and a committee of experts – carefully reviews proposed testimony before it is presented. Together, they first check that the proposed statement is consistent with League Positions. All League statements on issues must conform with League advocacy positions, developed after a thorough study and member discussion and agreement.

Our Action/Advocacy Chair works with other members who dedicate time to following certain local issues. The League also has Interest Groups that study issues such as public education, housing and justice. When members of these groups feel that the League should speak out on an issue, the request goes first to the Action Chair.

If the request is for a statement on a new issue, the Action Chair requests approval by the LWVPDX Board. (S)he explains the issue and LWV supporting positions to board members. If they approve the proposal, the Action Chair and LWV members who have followed the issue draft the statement. They then send it to the president and a small editing committee for final review and edits. The president must give final approval.

Testimony by individuals

The League strongly encourages the public and League members to speak out on issues they care about. Any resident may write letters to the Editor or testify to a governmental body, such as their City Council or school board. They are also welcome to use the careful research in LWV studies to back up their opinions. However, they must not imply that their statements are endorsed by the LWV. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT FROM THE LWV OF THE U.S. EXPLAINS THIS.

Members, of course, are always free to take action on any topic, as long as it is clear that they are speaking as individuals, not for the League (i.e, they should not mention that they are League members in their communications). It is important to remember that only the League president (or designee) speaks in the name of the League. Speaking with one voice is one of the most important tenets of the League.

OFFICIAL LWVPDX TESTIMONY

You can see all our official LWVPDX testimony in recent years by clicking below on the following issues:

Accountability and transparency in government

Affordable housing

Campaign Finance Reform

City Government – City Charter

Environmental protection

Police Oversight

Portland Utility Board (Water)

Urban Renewal

Upcoming & Recent Events

Members of the League of Women Voters marched in the 2022 Grand Floral Parade on Saturday June 11. They were celebrating the 102nd anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granting American women the right to vote in all elections. The year 2022 is also the 102nd anniversary of the League of Women Voters.

Panel Discussion on the International Climate Change Change Conference (COP26) with LWV members who were there! The presentation was on Wednesday, March 9. The video recording and a podcast of this event are now posted on the homepage of this website.

The videos of the Panel Discussions on the Portland Charter Review and on Immigration and Refugee Resettlement are now posted on our website here and here. We also have a 7-minute video about Teaching High School Civics with the Case Method made after our October event. It is posted here. We also have a podcast of the Charter Review program, a podcast of the Immigration program and a podcast of the Case Method program.

Read our Recent Testimony page for a short summary of our recent letter to Portland Police Chief Lovell and our testimony to the OR Senate Committee on Energy and the Environment.

In January and February 2022, Portland League members recommended activities and priorities for LWV in 2022-23. To read about the member-centered process of “Program Planning,” see our 2022 Program Planning page.

In the winter of 2022, the League is continuing to advocate with our new positions on Police Accountability and City Government. We are also applying our long-time positions on transparency, equality of opportunity, air quality, climate change, and voting rights to our work on issues before the Charter Review Commission, City Council, the Oregon Legislature and U.S. Congress.