2003 - 2005 State Program:

Positions in Brief

Education

• Action to support in principle the Basic Education Act (1977) and the Levy Lid Act.
• Action to obtain a balanced tax structure and to maintain uniform assessment practices to ensure equitable and sufficient financing.
• Action to support adequate and stable state funding of common schools in Washington including the costs of in-service training.
• Action to increase visibility, accessibility and accountability of the office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education.
• Action to support closer links between schools and social services, so that every child is ready to learn.
• Action to support greater involvement of parents, an increased role in decision making for teachers, and more flexible state education requirements.
• Action to provide greater access to public higher education to all, at whatever point in life it can be beneficial.

• Action to encourage cooperation among port districts, but with local options for voter control over major policy and expenditure decisions.

Representative Government

• Action to facilitate changes in the state constitution to achieve a representative and effective state legislature.
• Action to promote an informed electorate.
• Action to limit methods of financing political campaigns in order to ensure the public's right to know, combat undue influence, enable candidates to compete more equitably for public office and promote citizen participation in the election process.
• Action to facilitate changes in the state constitution to achieve a representative and effective state legislature.
• Action to promote an informed electorate.
• Action to limit methods of financing political campaigns in order to ensure the public's right to know, combat undue influence, enable candidates to compete more equitably for public office and promote citizen participation in the election process.
• Action to support the initiative and referendum process, adopt improvements to the process and require additional information for voters.
• Action to protect the interests of all affected parties in considering the formation of new counties.
• Action to clarify in legislation the processes in county formation and to require that the entire county have the ability to vote on separation.
• Action to support election methods that promote "representative-ness," citizen participation and accountability and that produce proportional representation.
• Action to support a majority vote requirement if achieved through a mechanism such as Instant Runoff Voting (IRV).
• Action to support a primary that is "open" and encourages minor party participation if a primary continues to be used.

State Tax Policy

• Action to obtain a balanced tax structure that is fair, adequate, flexible and has a sound economic effect.

Washington State and Indian Treaty Rights

• Action to enhance salmon resources, establish a procedure for retrocession of jurisdiction and support tribal land use planning of trust lands.

- Transportation -

• The League supports a balanced state transportation policy that defines the role of the state and supports increases in funding to provide adequate revenue and flexibility for a multi-modal system of transportation.

- Natural Resources -

Energy

• Action to support an energy policy within Washington State.
• Action to educate the public on energy conservation.
• Action to establish incentives for efficient use of current energy sources and the greater use of alternative energy sources.

• Action to obtain coordinated planning and ensure environmental quality in the use of water, air and land resources.
• Action to insure that forest management is carried out in a manner that will sustain healthy forests, streams and habitats.

• Action for coordinated control and reduction of solid waste.
• Action to reduce the amount of hazardous waste generated in Washington and action to promote safe management of that waste which is produced, including toxics in the home.

- Social Policy -

Administration of Justice

• Action to ensure that our courts are fair, efficient, accessible and staffed with qualified personnel.
• Action to maintain a separate court system and facilities for youths that will balance the procedural rights of the adversary system with the protection of youth's basic rights.
• Action to realize equity in sentencing standards.
• Action to obtain alternatives to incarceration is of prime importance.

Children's Programs

• Child Support and Custody:
  
  • The League of Women Voters supports vigorous, efficient and innovative child support enforcement methods and broad education regarding the responsibilities and consequences of parenthood.
  • The best interest of the child should be the overriding consideration in determining custody, visitation and an appropriate level of child support.
  • The physical and emotional security of the child should be paramount.
  • Children are entitled to support that is adequate to meet basic needs commensurate with the parents' income, resources, and standard of living.
  • Courts should have the discretion to order post secondary educational support in appropriate circumstances.
• Children's Services:
  
  • Action to support stable and adequate funding for children at risk, with priority given to prevention, early identification and intervention services, community based treatment programs, day treatment programs and residential care.
• Day Care for Children:
  
  • Action to provide for the general welfare of children in day care centers.
  • Action to ensure that the state enforce minimum standards that include provision for a safe, healthy, clean environment.
  • Action to support sufficient staff with emphasis on competence and ability to provide a creative, challenging and caring environment.

Economic Diversification

• Action to ensure a balanced state economy with a strong mixture of large and small businesses. Measures to contribute to long-range planning and cooperation between all levels of government with local initiatives wherever possible.

Gun Control

• Action to provide governmental regulation of ownership and possession of firearms, and measures to limit their accessibility.

Health Care

• Action to provide universal access to affordable health services for all residents of the state of Washington and to control total system expenditures.

Human Resources

• Action to achieve equal rights for all.
• Action to achieve equality of opportunity for education, employment and housing regardless of race, color, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation or disability.
• Action to obtain measures that provide basic human needs for those unable to provide for themselves.
• Action to ensure that there are emergency support services for those involved in physical and/or mental violence.