Current Issues Under Study

League of Women Voters^®
of Milwaukee County

Electrical Energy Use by Milwaukee County Municipalities

At the May 2011 annual meeting of the League of Women Voters of Milwaukee County, members adopted a Natural Resources Committee proposal of a two-year study of electrical energy use by Milwaukee County Municipalities through interviews of appropriate individuals in each of the 19 municipalities with each municipality completing a survey.
Scope: The survey to be completed by all 19 municipalities in Milwaukee County concerns electrical energy use in buildings per se, office technology, and outdoor spaces (street lights, traffic lights and parks lighting). The study does not include vehicular use. Once surveys are completed the Committee will summarize them, post information on our website, report back to all 19 communities and make recommendations to our League, possibly to adopt a position and then advocate.
Please note: As of this proposal, the Intergovernmental Cooperation Council (ICC) has not discussed energy savings. The Natural Resources Committee believes that by gathering information and sharing it, we could prompt Milwaukee County municipalities to actively discuss what communities have found to be beneficial in saving energy and money.
To learn more or get involved in this study, contact us.

Education

Education Study Background Papers
At the June 2010 LWVUS national convention, a two-year study of the role of the federal government in education was approved by the delegates. Below is the scope of the study. In fall 2011, LWV Milwaukee County will hold both a general meeting and unit meetings on this topic. See our calendar for meeting dates.
Scope: The Education Study scope is broad and includes the following areas under the role of the federal government in public education (preK through grade 12): the history, funding and equity issues which are addressed under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and the common core standards/assessments which are required for many federal grant programs but are national, not federal. The culminating position will address only those issues delineated in the scope.
Although the study focuses on the federal government, the original intent of the study included the Common Core Standards. These were written and funded by the National Governors' Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). Historically we have always had national standards written by the teaching organizations such as the National Council of Teachers of Math and the National Council of Teachers of English. However, the discussion here will focus upon how these new standards called Common Core State Standards will be used by the federal government.

Privatization Study

Privatization Study Background Papers
Scope: The purpose of this study is to identify those parameters and policy issues to be considered in connection with proposals to transfer federal, state or local government services, assets and/or functions to the private sector. It will review the stated goals and the community impact of such transfers, and identify strategies to ensure transparency, accountability, and preservation of the common good. Click here

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: February 8, 2012 20:26 PST.