Official Policy Positions of the LWV of Sussex Highlands & LWVNJ

The positions listed below represent the official consensus of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey (LWVNJ), as developed and adopted through careful study and member review. These statements form the foundation for all of our advocacy and educational efforts across the state. They empower us to take action on issues ranging from the Administration of Justice and Public Education to Fiscal Policy and Natural Resources. Our local chapter uses these state-level positions to guide our work in making democracy function.

ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE

• Death Penalty:

  • Oppose capital punishment under any circumstances and for any type of crime.

  • Support life imprisonment without possibility of parole as the appropriate alternative.

  • Support systemic reforms of the justice system for violent crimes.

• Family Court: Support adequate funding and training of personnel.

• Juvenile Justice:

  • Support rehabilitation programs including a broad range of graduated sanctions and services, and adequate funding for community-based facilities.

  • Support measures to reduce disproportionate representation of minority youth in the system.

  • Support a single, independent state-level agency.

• Mediation in the Municipal Courts: Support statewide implementation of mediation programs.

EDUCATION

• Charter Schools:

  • Support charter schools to encourage innovation within the public schools, while preserving the public character of public education.

  • Support protecting traditional public school districts from arbitrary funding changes with respect to charter school funding.

• Private School Choice: Oppose use of public funds to support students in non-public schools.

• Public School Funding: (See Public Education Funding under Fiscal Policy).

• School District Regionalization:

  • Support decision-making by citizens of affected districts, so long as the right to equal educational access is not abridged.

  • Support merger of some types of districts into a regional district, others into single K-12 districts, and elimination of districts with less than 500 students.

  • Support revision of the decision-making process for changes in tax-allocation formula.

  • Oppose formation of countywide districts.

• State Role in Achieving Quality Education:

  • Support the sharing of responsibility between state and local school boards for educational outcomes.

  • Support state assistance and monitoring, state-set curriculum content standards, and structural flexibility.

• Teacher Certification and Professional Development:

  • Support continuation and improvement of the alternative route to certification to assure substantive training, valid evaluation, and appropriate support.

  • Support periodic renewal of certification and requirement of continuing professional development.

• Tenure: Support elimination of tenure for administrators.

FISCAL POLICY

• Dedication of Taxes: Oppose the constitutional dedication of taxes.

• Public School Funding:

  • Promote state fiscal measures to improve and equalize opportunities for public education, including aid for school facilities and adequate support for children with special needs.

  • Protect school districts from arbitrary funding changes.

  • Support state education mandates that are used to meet educational standards, include significant state funding, and allow adequate time for implementation.

• Tax and Spending Limits: Support limits on taxation and spending by school districts, municipal, county, and state governments.

• Tax and Spending Policy:

  • Promote sound fiscal policies through a progressive and equitable tax structure with adequate revenue to provide state and local services to meet the needs of New Jersey citizens.

  • Support measures to reduce dependence on the local property tax and disparities in tax rates and services among communities.

GOVERNMENT

• Campaign Finance:

  • Support an open and accountable system including contribution and expenditure disclosure and limitations.

  • Support a system of public and private funding.

• Independent Commissions and Authorities: Support accountability, openness, coordination in planning between commissions and authorities, and oversight by the executive branch.

• Lieutenant Governor: Support office with defined responsibilities and succession for the remainder of the elected term.

• Structures and Procedures: Support longer staggered terms and single-member districts.

• Voting Rights for Parolees and Probationers: Support restoring voting rights to all parolees and probationers who are U.S. citizens.

NATURAL RESOURCES

• Planning for Growth:

  • Support a comprehensive state planning policy for land use decisions which includes:

    • Open space conservation and habitat preservation for biodiversity.

    • Farmland preservation and historic preservation.

    • Provision of low- and moderate-income housing consistent with environmental policies.

  • Support watershed management, storm water management, non-structural approaches to flood damage reduction in all river basins, and education and enforcement programs to eliminate both non-point and point source pollution.

  • Support a transportation planning process that:

    • Provides all segments of the population with at least a minimum level of mobility.

    • Contributes to sound land use planning.

    • Is consistent with local and regional development goals.

    • Considers energy conservation and environmental protection.

    • Enhances the social and economic welfare of all state residents.

• Coastal Zone: Support planning which leads to the best possible outcome for people, land, and coast.

• Radioactive Waste:

  • Public health and safety should be the primary considerations in managing radioactive wastes.

  • Greater weight should be given to prevention of environmental degradation over economic constraints.

• Solid Waste Management: Strategies for managing municipal solid waste should be implemented in the following order: source reduction, recycling, waste-to-energy, and landfill.

SOCIAL POLICY

• Instate Tuition:

  • Support extending instate tuition to undocumented immigrants who graduate from NJ high schools and are admitted to NJ’s public institutions of higher education.

  • Support including undocumented immigrants who would qualify for instate tuition at par in the funding formula for private colleges and universities, if the state funds private higher education for New Jersey students.

• Driving Certificates for Undocumented Drivers:

  • Support "driving certificates" or some other form of proof of driving validation to undocumented drivers.

  • Support permitting and encouraging auto insurance providers to issue insurance coverage to holders of such driving certificates.

• Reparations for Black/African Americans:

  • The League of Women Voters of New Jersey supports reparations for Black/African Americans, believing the legacy of slavery still impacts them in New Jersey today.

  • Supports a broad range of possible reparations, focusing not just on financial investments, but also policy reforms in: Housing, Criminal Justice, Education, Health Care, and Economics.

TRANSPORTATION

• Transportation: Support use of public monies to subsidize both operating and capital costs of public transportation. (See also the Planning for Growth position under Natural Resources).

WOMEN & FAMILY ISSUES

• Child Care: Promote state efforts to increase the availability of quality child care service.

• Domestic Violence: Support measures that protect victims and survivors.

• Family Life Education: Support the teaching of comprehensive family life education in the public schools.

• Legal Status of Women:

  • Promote laws that protect the rights of women.

  • Support revisions of property and inheritance laws, expeditious and less costly divorce procedures, equitable distribution statutes, strengthening of laws regarding disclosure of assets, and methods for collecting support payments.

• Reproductive Rights/Public Policy on Abortion: Support the right of the individual to make the choice of whether or not to terminate a pregnancy.

• Human Trafficking:

  • Oppose all forms of human trafficking.

  • Support programs and services to combat human trafficking, training for law enforcement, medical and other professionals, and education on internet safety.

  • Support effective laws and policies to combat human trafficking, protection and services for victims, and unequivocal recognition that victims are not criminals.

  • Oppose discrimination and violence against women.

• Sexual Assaults in the College Community:

  • Support policies and programs to combat sexual misconduct and sexual assault on college campuses.

  • Support early and ongoing preventive measures; education on consent, policies, and other relevant information; counseling and protection for victims; and an active role by campus administration in combating sexual misconduct and assault.

Ready to Take Action?

These policies only become real when we advocate for them. If you believe in the League's mission and these positions, there are many ways you can help move this work forward locally:

• Become a Member: Join our League and lend your voice to our research and advocacy efforts.

• Stay Informed: Sign up for our email updates to find out when and how to contact your local legislators on key issues.

• Donate: Support the nonpartisan work of the League of Women Voters of Sussex Highlands today.