PUBLIC POLICY

The Petaluma branch of AAUW supports local measures that promote the California AAUW mission of equity for all women and girls, lifelong education, and positive societal change.

Public Policy Efforts of Petaluma AAUW in the Year 2006-2007 include:

• Candidate Forum for Petaluma City Council and Mayoral candidates, organized together with the League of Women Voters and the Petaluma Argus-Courier, fall of 2006.
• Support for the Petaluma Coalition to Prevent Underage and High Risk Drinking: Starting in mid-2006, an AAUW representative joined representatives from other civic groups, the city school administration, the Petaluma Health Care District, and the Petaluma Police Department, in a successful effort to get a local Social Host Ordinance passed (Dec. 2006) and in current efforts promoting a responsible beverage service ordinance.
• One Care Now Event: In March 2007, Petaluma AAUW invited the general public to its regularly scheduled monthly meeting, a forum on universal health care held at Lucchesi Center and featuring speakers State Assembly Member Jared Huffman, State Senator Sheila Kuehl’s aide, Mia Orr, and local physician Dr. John Shearer. California AAUW supports Sen. Kuehl’s Senate Bill 840.
• Support for Petaluma public schools: In spring of 2007, AAUW helped with the get-out-the-vote drive in favor of local Ballot Measures C and D, which would continue local funding of important school programs not covered by state funds.

Petaluma AAUW members are invited to suggest additional local public policy issues that deserve our support and/or attention. Please contact our branch’s Chair with your ideas.

Useful Websites:

National AAUW Public Policy Page:
This page, which describes AAUW Public Policy Principals and Biennial Action Priorities, has links to:

• The AAUW Action Network (www.aauw.org/issue_advocacy/actionnetwork/index.cfm )
• Grass Roots Resources such as the 2-Minute Activist page and Action Alert Newsletter
• Issue Resources including Biennial Priority Issues and congressional voting records as well as Washington Update
• Voter Education Campaign tools and resources 

California AAUW Public Policy Page
          
Links on this page allow you to look up

• Bills supported by the State AAUW
• Contact information for state assembly members and senators
• California AAUW Action priorities
• Voting records of California legislators
• The state AAUW voter education campaign
• The state AAUW’s reproductive rights initiative
• Action resources (equity, education, and social justice resources)
• Coalition Partners: California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom, California Women’s Agenda, California NOW, Edsource, League of Women Voters, Planned Parenthood Affiliates, California Parent-Teacher Association, California Commission on the Status of Women, California Federation of Business and Professional Women, US Dept. of Labor, Women's Bureau)

Counting visits to our site