LWVNE Committees
The state board includes officers as well as directors (or co-directors) who head seven committees for the LWVNE. Six LWVNE committees mirror committees of the Nebraska Legislature. Every bill introduced to the Nebraska Legislature receives a hearing in a legislative committee. The various committees of the LWVNE work on issues at the state level. Members from local Leagues across the state and members-at-large are encouraged to work with these LWVNE state committees. Contact the directors to join a committee.
Education Committee
- Education Board Director: Melina Cohen
- Before each legislative session, Melina and the committee reviews the bills that will be heard in the Legislature’s Education Committee. Periodically, the committee may monitor events or studies related to education.
- As the 106th Legislature’s Second Session reopens on July 20, education funding issues will be front and center with coronavirus budget pressures, property taxes and education funding being debated.
- Melina, representing Stand for Schools, recently spoke at LWVGO’s virtual Dine & Discuss about school funding and the Legislature. The Zoom recording can be viewed here.
Government Committee
- Government Board Director: Sheri St. Clair
- Before each legislative session, Sheri and the committee reviews bills that will be heard in the Legislature’s Government and Executive Committees.
- During the current 2020 legislative session, the Government Committee has been focused on redistricting legislation, supporting LB 1207. Unfortunately, while the bill was placed in the General File on March 9, 2020, it is not expected to receive a vote in the post suspension session that begins on July 20, 2020.
- The Government Committee also adopted the National LWV People Powered Fair Maps campaign earlier this year. The People Powered Fair Maps campaign is a national redistricting initiative focused on creating fair political maps nationwide. The Nebraska People Powered Fair Maps Campaign was a coalition member of Nebraskans for Independent Redistricting. However, the initiative to create an independent redistricting committee was not able to garner enough signatures to get on the November 2020 ballot due to the coronavirus pandemic.
- The Government Committee will continue to work on redistricting next session to ensure Nebraska has People Powered Fair Maps.
Health Care Committee
- Health Care Board Director: Phyllis Salyards
- Before each legislative session, Phyllis and the committee reviews bills that will be heard in the Legislature’s Health & Human Services Committee.
- To read a letter by LWVNE Action Vice President Sherry Miller and LWVNE Health Care Director Phyllis Salyards supporting LR 170 heard by the Health and Human Services Committee.LR 170 provides for an interim study to examine the Department of Health and Human Services’ plan to submit a demonstration project waiver for the medical assistance program under section 1115 of the Social Security Act (Medicaid).
Mental and Behavioral Health Committee
- Mental & Behavioral Health Board Co-Directors: Aimée Folker & Palistene Gray Moore
- Before each legislative session, Aimée and Palistene and the committee review bills that will be heard in the Health & Human Services, Education and other relevant committees.
- Aimée and Palistene also keep the state board appraised of new initiatives in the mental and behavioral health area such as the recent Well Being Partners mental health stigma reduction campaign.
Natural Resources Committee
- Natural Resources Board Co-Directors: Megan York Lyons & Janelle Stevenson
- Before each legislative session, Megan & Janelle and the committee review bills that will be heard in the Natural Resources and Agriculture Committees.
- Megan, Janelle and Toni Monette recently worked in cooperation with the LWVNE, the LWV of Kansas and the Great Plains United Methodists to present a webinar on “Faith, Climate Change and the 2020 Election” on July 9, 2020 (Video of the Zoom below).
- Climate Change and Water website resources (PDF)
- Voting Rights website resources (PDF)
- Democracy, Values and the 2020 Election: A Reflection Guide for Faith Communities
Social Policy Committee
- Social Policy Board Co-Directors: Carol Dennison & Rebecca Gonzales
- Before each legislative session, Carol & Rebecca and the committee review the bills that will be heard in various legislative committees that touch on social policy issues such as the minimum wage, prescription drug prices for insulin and pay day lending.
- The LWVNE is part of the Coalition for Responsible Lending, which supports a cap on interest on pay day lending loans at 36%. A ballot initiative sponsored by the group will be on the November 2020 general election ballot.
Voter Services Committee
- Voter Services Board Co-Directors: Caryl Guisinger & Toni Monette
- Caryl and Toni handle voter services for the state. In 2020, LWVNE Voter Services expanded the VOTE411.org online voters guide to include city, county and district races in all 93 Nebraska counties along with state and federal races. In addition, they created the first statewide LWVNE Voter’s Guide for the 2020 primary (see the picture at the top of this page and 2020 Primary Election Guide under the Voting Resources link). The 2020 General Election Guide will be available in mid-to-late September.
- Caryl and Toni also created a statewide “Know Your Voting Rights” campaign, which includes a brochure. Currently, due to the coronavirus, the brochure is available only in PDF form in English and Spanish.
