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tion Act! <br />“The League of <br />Women Voters is a <br />nonpartisan political <br />organization, which <br />encourages the in- <br />formed and active par­ <br />ticipation of citizens in <br />government, and influ­ <br />ences public policy <br />thorough education <br />Information in this issue <br />offers you opportunities to get <br />involved in the action side of <br />League. Those of you who are <br />fairly new to League will be <br />reassured to know that lobby ­ <br />ing on issues we have studied <br />is as nonpartisan as our voter <br />service. We seek support on <br />issues withrut regard to politi ­ <br />cal party. <br />The Capitol <br />Letter will keep you <br />informed on the is­ <br />sues followed by the <br />State Action Com ­ <br />mittee. The Legisla ­ <br />tive Internship Ap­ <br />plication offers the <br />opportunity to join <br />the committee and <br />team how to lobby at <br />•he Capitol. If you <br />cannot get to St. <br />Paul, the Ten Minute <br />activist offers an op- <br />portunit) to be a part <br />of the team from home. Call <br />the State Office at 224-S445 if <br />you have questions. <br />Action Alert <br />from LWVUS <br />Urgent Grassroots Action <br />Needed! Members of the <br />r#i <br />House of Representa ­ <br />tives took an historic step <br />on August 6 by voting 252- <br />179 for the Shavs-Meehanm <br />campaign finance reform leg­ <br />islation and sending it to the <br />Senate. This was a tremen­ <br />dous victoty for the League <br />and our allies. Thank you for <br />all the work that you did to <br />achieve this milestone! <br />Now we must redouble <br />our efforts to press the Senate <br />to act. Please contact your <br />Senators and urge them to <br />vote for campaign finance re­ <br />form and to support cloture on <br />the legislation. Tell them <br />that the Senate must pass <br />campaign finance reform be ­ <br />fore they adjourn.. <br />Each member of our Con ­ <br />gressional delegation should <br />receive the same message of <br />our support for the followinf . <br />The LWV supports closing <br />the soft money and sham is­ <br />sue advocacy loopholes, the <br />essential reform elements <br />contained in S25 as it now <br />reads. <br />The Senate is scheduled to <br />return from its summer recess <br />on August 31. From that time <br />Action <br />until adjournment, expected <br />around October 9, we will <br />have a window for action. <br />The Shays-Meehan bill, <br />as it passed the House, would <br />effectively ban “soft money,” <br />require that funding for <br />“sham “ issues ads be co\’ered <br />by the same rules that apply <br />to other election activities, <br />strengthen FEC enforcement, <br />and create a commission to <br />study additional ways that the <br />campaign finance s>stem can <br />be improved. <br />Action Needed: <br />Your Senators can be <br />contacted through the Capitol <br />switchboard at (202)224-3121 <br />or through their individual <br />office numbers. You may e- <br />mail your representative <br />through LWVUS Web site at <br />www.lwv.org . <br />Urge your Senators to <br />support campaign finance <br />reform and to vote for cloture. <br />Editor ’s Note: More infor ­ <br />mation on issues can be found <br />on the internet at http:// <br />freenet.msp.mn.us/ip/poi/ <br />Iwvmn or at http://www.lwv. <br />org. <br />How to Contact Your Legislators <br />Legislator Wash. Phone Wash. Fa» E-Mail Address <br />Senator Rod Grams 202/224-3244 202/224-0956 mail grams'S;grams.senate.gov <br />Senator Paul Weilstone 202/224-5641 202/224-8438 senator(S;weilstone.senate.gov <br />Rep. Jim Ramstad 202/225-2871 202/225-6351 * <br />*To send e-mail to Rep. Ramstad access the Web site at http://www.house.gov/writerep/ follow in­ <br />structions. Also. Rep. Ramstad has his owu Web site at http://www.house gov/ramstad/ and you can <br />leave mail there as well. <br />Rape 7