Chaotic Times
February 8, 2025
These are chaotic times and many of you have asked me what the League of Women Voters is doing as we face these threats against democracy.
“In the first 17 days of the Trump administration, we’ve witnessed nothing short of the weaponization of government against Americans. The callousness of the most recent actions, including the terrorizing of the immigrant community, shows a blatant disregard for the well-being of the American people,” our CEO Celina Stewart said.
Unfortunately, the new administration’s actions hit at the same time as our Utah Legislature began a session which can only be described as power-strengthening. The LWV Legislative Action Corps has been diligently monitoring and testifying at the Capitol. We are fighting to maintain a robust and effective mailed-ballot system, along with the member consortium (the Electronic Registration Information Center - ERIC) that keeps voting records up-to-date and accurate. Same-day registration is also under attack.
As we see Great Salt Lake shrink and water resources dwindle, we would ask that our members reach out and ask their legislators to protect and fund protections for GSL. Clean energy is also a priority of the League.
Perhaps your issues surround keeping children of all persuasions safe, maintaining an equitable healthcare system for women, or finding ways to keep guns out of dangerous hands. Whatever your issue, we are asking you, as individual citizens, to call, write, or email your representatives now.
Testifying has been made easy by the le.utah.gov website, where you can log in to a meeting and ask to speak virtually. Be brief and use personal stories for the greatest impact.
Thank you for supporting the League and our mission in these difficult times.
Following is a roundup of all the federal-level activities this week, if you are interested in learning more:
· LWVUS joined 118 organizations calling on Congress to investigate the illegal activities of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The letter, led by Public Citizen and National Women’s Law Center, demands that Congress investigate whether Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency violated the law by accessing protected or classified information without authorization.
· The League and partner organizations sent a letter to the Chairs of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) to request a meeting about protecting and preserving federal voting rights laws, including the Voting Rights Act, during the 119th Congress.
Action alert: Oppose the SAVE Act
—Katharine Biele, LWV Utah President
