Positions in Brief

League of Women Voters^®
of Maine

2009 - 2011

Positions

PAC Reform. Instant Run-off Voting. Equality of Opportunity (Civil Marriage). Environmental Resources. County Government. Education. Health Care in Maine. Juvenile Justice. Transportation. Regional Quad State Agreement on Transportation. LWVUS Positions.

Campaign Finance

LWVME supports reform in the financing of state candidate PACs consistent with the LWVUS position on Campaign Finance Reform.
This means that LWVME supports measures to improve the financing candidate PACs in order to ensure the public's right to know, combat corruption and undue influence, enable candidates to compete more equitably for public office, and promote citizen participation in the political process. Applying these principles to PAC reform in Maine provides a basis for sound action in the changing constitutional context as the Supreme Court of the U.S. reshapes the landscape of permissible reform.

Election Systems

The League of Women Voters of Maine supports election systems for elected offices in single seat elections that require the winner to receive a majority of the votes, as long as the majority is achieved by Instant Runoff Voting/Ranked Choice Voting, rather than a second, separate runoff election.

Equality of Opportunity (Civil Marriage)

The League of Women Voters of Maine supports equal rights for all under Maine law. LWVME supports legislation to equalize the legal rights and benefits available to same-sex couples with those available to heterosexual couples. LWVME supports legislation to permit same-sex couples to marry. The League believes that the civil status of marriage should be clearly distinguished from the religious institution of marriage and that religious rights should be preserved. LWVME believes that Maine should recognize the civil unions and same-sex marriages of other states.

Environmental Resources

Support action to promote sustainable use of natural resources and prevent degradation of natural resources in Maine, especially in the areas of:

Air Quality
Pesticides
Water Quality

Land Use
Farmland Preservation
Energy

Nuclear Power
Food Irradiation
Low-level Radioactive Waste

County Government

Support intermediary form of government, such as county government, between municipalities and the state.

Education

Strengthen education in Maine, especially in the areas of:

Education Finance
School Libraries
University of Maine System

Health Care in Maine

Support a unified state health care program that provides coverage for all residents of the state, including those now insured.

Juvenile Justice

Support for a juvenile justice system that has as its primary purposes the prevention of juvenile crime and substance abuse and the prompt response to and rehabilitation of juveniles who have committed crimes.

Transportation

Support energy-efficient and environmentally sound transportation systems which improve access to housing and services. Support initiatives which improve rail transportation in Maine.

Regional Quad State Agreement on Transportation

The LWV 1998 Quad States Council (including the four state delegations from LWV-ME, NH, VT, RI) support action to encourage participation and cooperation in promoting regional transportation initiatives. The goal is regional planning and implementation of integrated transportation systems throughout New England. Specific objectives include:

Construction of the North/South rail link in Boston, Massachusetts
Passenger rail links to Canada with improved border crossings
Measures to reduce vehicular pollution
More energy efficient transportation system
Passenger rail service linking all of New England

The League's National Positions

LWVME may also take action at the state level based on positions adopted by our national League. These positions cover a broad range of public policy areas: representative goverment, international relations, natural resources, and social policy. Read more about the Leagues national positions at the LWVUS web site.

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: January 27, 2012 12:17 PST.