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Supreme Court Reform
Monday, May 12 • 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Zoom
The LWV US is completing a year long Federal Judiciary policy review and detailed results come out in June. Join members of the LWV Manatee and the Government Action Team to understand the issues at stake, and learn more about the process of creating a policy recommendation.
Click here to register.
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Lunch with the League
Tuesday, May 13 • 11:30AM
O'Bricks, 427 12th St W, Bradenton
Join fellow League members for enjoyable outside dining and lively conversation. This time we will be having a nice casual conversation about the intersection of culture, education and reproductive rights. Space is limited, so reserve now if you will be attending.
Click Here to Reserve
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2025 Florida Legislature Session Recap
- Dr. Monica Elliott, LWVFL
Voter Services Action Team Chair
- Dr. Jill Lewis-Spector, LWVFL
Education Issues Action Team Chair
Thursday, May 22 • 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Zoom
As the 2025 Florida Legislative Session draws to a close on May 2, now later, significant decisions made in Tallahassee will shape the future of Florida.
Many proposed bills have came before the legislators that were supported by the League, and MANY that were not. What legislation passed and what did not in voting rights, education, reproductive rights, natural resources and more. We will learn what is likely to recur and what are the trends. Stay informed!
Click here to register
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Coffee and Conversation West
Monday, May 26, 9:00 am - 10:30 am
Panera
6351 Manatee Ave W, Bradenton
The coffee is casual. We learn more about each other. We could be discussing politics, arts, travel and any number of other topics.
As well as enjoying the company of our League’s bright, interesting and engaged members, we also provide a few hand-outs and discuss what's going on with the League. Join us!
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Tuesday, May 6, 5:00 pm - Social Issues Action Team Meeting
Click here to join the Social Issues Meeting
For more information, email either Social Issues Co-chair Nina Tortelli
or Social Issues Co-chair Tina Juillerat
Monday, May 12, 4:30 pm - Combined Government and National Popular Vote Action Team - Special Topic: Supreme Court Reform see above event.
Click Here to Register
For more information email Government Action Team For more information about National Popular Vote email Deb Mazzaferro, and for Gun Safety email Holly Kennedy
Wednesday, May 14, 4:00 pm - LWVMC Board Meeting
All are welcome! Click here to join the Board Meeting
For more information, email LWV Manatee County
Thursday, May 15, 5:00 pm - Natural Resources Action Team Meeting
Click here to register for the Natural Resources Meeting
For more information, email Natural Resources Chair Randy Miller
Tuesday, May 27, 4:00 pm - Education Issues Action Team Meeting
Special Topic: Manatee County School District Federal Funding Data
Click here to join the Education Meeting. For more information, email Education Chair Merrie Lynn Parker
NOTE:
Voter Services Action Team Meeting will not meet in May
For more information, email Terri Kondos
Reproductive Rights Action Team will not meet in May and June
For more information, email Nancy Hughes
| | League of Women Voters Education Fund v. Trump | | |
On April 1, the League of Women Voters and a coalition of voting rights organizations filed League of Women Voters Education Fund v. Trump to stop his unlawful executive order. The federal lawsuit argued that President Trump’s Executive Order 14248, which ordered the Election Assistance Commission to:
- require documentary proof of citizenship on the federal voter registration form,
- threatened to withhold funds from states allowing post-election day receipt of mail ballots, and
- invited DOGE to assist in voter list maintenance,
among other provisions, is an illegal order beyond the President’s powers under the United States Constitution and federal law.
If Trump’s plan goes through, it would put up new barriers to voting that disproportionately affect women, new voters, and communities of color. Anyone who has changed their name could struggle to verify their identity. Voters without passports could be turned away.
This is voter suppression. "This executive order is not only extreme, but is blatantly unlawful," says Marcia Johnson, chief counsel for the League of Women Voters. "It is an egregious assault on voting rights and the Constitution, and we cannot allow any President to use an illegal executive order to obliterate the rights of millions of voters."
The League is at the forefront of the most important federal and state voting rights litigation across the United States. The League of Women Voters has standing, the right to sue for voter rights, because it is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to protecting and expanding voting rights. Our mission aligns with ensuring fair and equitable access to the electoral process.
Click here if you wish to donate to LWV US defense of voting rights.
| Toxic groundwater plume in Manatee County is spreading and requires ‘urgent action’ | | |
Lockheed Martin owns the site of a former beryllium plant located on Tallevast Road. The Company informed the state in 2000 the plant had contaminated the groundwater. No one told neighbors, many of whom are on well water.
Recent testing of sampling wells in the Tallevast area of Manatee County, funded by an EPA grant to the University of South Florida, shows high levels of dioxane and other chemicals of concern, and that parts of the toxic groundwater plume from a former beryllium plant are spreading.
Those in this area on wells and lived there for 10 or more years are 8 times are more likely to contract cancer. These chemicals “damage the nervous system, kidneys and liver as well as the immune system and developing fetuses and are known carcinogens,” Dr. Christian Wells, a researcher at the University of South Florida,” said in a grant application.
Lockheed Martin previously made efforts to clean the site, however, independent consultants say there needs to be more, urgency, especially with the edges of the plume appearing to spread outside of areas where systems are in place to capture and clean the contamination. The company has not yet responded to 10 Investigates’ request for an interview (the report in the above video).
| | Solar Energy on the Gulf Coast | | | | On April 17, 2025 Julia Herbst of Solar United Neighbors, shared multiple programs including some that a homeowner or non-profit would need to hop onto quickly to be part of these ecological and cost saving programs. Solar United Neighbors helps people in the Gulf Coast of Florida install solar and build an energy system that supports Sunshine State communities. | | |
Kimberly Albritton
Claudia Allers
Linda Briggle
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Sue Brite
Thomas Carlson
Rosalind Vidakovic
| | Don't let the name fool you. EVERYONE is welcome. | | The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights and ensure everyone is represented in our democracy. We empower voters and defend democracy through advocacy, education, and litigation, at the local, state, and national levels. | | | | |
