WHERE WE STAND: POSITIONS & ISSUES

LOCAL LEAGUE POSITIONS

• Campaign Finance Reform
• Local Government
• Health Care

PROPOSED LOCAL PROGRAM: 2005-2006

Campaign Finance Reform (2004)

The League believes that the filing of campaign finance reports should ensure the public's right to know the amount and source of contributions in a timely manner. Therefore, we support a date for filing of reports early enough to provide sufficient time for their publication prior to the election. To facilitate timely filing, electronic filing should be required with the provision of technical assistance if needed.

The League believes that making the source and amount of contributions transparent to the public reduces the need to place further restrictions on contributions. Therefore, we do not recommend imposing a contribution limit less than the $500 state limit or limiting contributions to Alachua County citizens or natural persons.

In the interest of increasing public awareness and participation, the League recommends that the local government TV station provide air time for candidate forums.

Local Government (2002):

The League recommends:

1. A restructuring of government as follows:
   • A strong executive elected by the voters, responsible for initiation of policy and administrative control over all governmental departments.
   • A representative policy-determining body or council of manageable size, elected by the voters and responsible to them for the general conduct of governmental affairs.
   • Adequate and equitable revenue sources with tax in proportion to services needed.
   • The ability to serve the needs of the growing urban area, along with the responsibility to supply these services within a reasonable time limit.
2. Elimination of duplication of services.
3. Comprehensive, county-wide land use planning.
4. A single, county-wide detention and correction system headed by a trained penologist.
5. A consolidated, county-wide law enforcement agency, which includes the implementation of a central communications network and record keeping system.
6. A county-wide transportation system with adequate public control and subsidized if necessary.
7. Clearly defined lines of authority and responsibility.

1. The area is urban in character or likely to be so in the near future. Urban in character will be determined in part by population densities, units per acre and lot size.
2. There is a need for efficient delivery of urban services such as fire hydrants, street lights, mosquito control. more rapid emergency fire/police response, water, sewer, electric, gas, mass transit.
3. Economic consequences will be considered, e.g. the annexation's effect upon the County's ability to provide essential services.
4. Issues of equity and fairness will be considered. The annexing municipality is able to provide needed services in a timely manner without compromising the service levels of its own constituency.
5. The area to be annexed will be compact and continguous. It will be an enclave.

Maternal Care (1983): We agree with the concept of free-standing birthing centers as alternatives to hospitals for both indigent and non-indigent patients. To be acceptable, a birthing-center must meet the guidelines of the American Public Health Association. In view of safety records by such centers in this and other states, and because of the advantages (cost containment, continuity of care, less medical intervention in the birth process, etc.), parents facing a low risk birth should be able to choose a birthing center if they so desire.

As far as indigent patients are concerned, we believe that they should not be forced into a birthing center. Because of intangible reasons, such as the personality of the mother, some low-risk births should take place in a hospital. The women should be allowed to have hospital care if that is their choice.

We believe pregnant women should contribute to the cost of their care according to their ability to pay. However, since the importance of pre-natal care far overshadows the payment factor, treatment in some cases should be free of charge. Every effort must be made to keep pregnant women in the program.

We believe that a board-eligible obstetrician should be the required medical back-up for a birthing center, and he/she should have admitting priviledges at a local hospital.

Proposed Local Program (2005-2006):

Natural Resources
To monitor and study local environmental issues and to take action based on national and state positions with emphasis on land conservation, growth management, sustainability issues, air quality, and water resources in Alachua County.

Social Policy
To identify and study important and timely local social issues, present relevant informational programs, and when appropriate, act on current positions.

Education
To study public schools at all levels, including charter schools, community college education and higher education; to identify problems and plans for improvement; to continue to monitor charter schools, home schooling, the voucher program, the inclusion of more special education students in mainstream classes and take action to correct civil rights violations in special education.

Local Government
To find and understand the flows of money into and out of our country, looking at how these flows work, and what that money buys the community. The Local Government Committee will present the league with a special report and a PowerPoint presentation on our civic adventure program, Follow the Money.

Privitization of State Government Services
To study the privitization of government services now occurring in the local area and to propose a state-wide program of study to the LWVF leading to consensus on the proper policies for privitization.