WNC Vote Tracker website provides info on legislation

Press release from Children First/Communities in Schools:

WNC Vote Tracker provides transparency on legislators’ votes on new laws that impact residents
in 20 Western North Carolina counties 

ASHEVILLE—The North Carolina General Assembly introduces and passes several bills each year that impact the quality of life in Western North Carolina. The nonpartisan website WNC Vote Tracker provides information on important legislation in six categories: Economic Security; Education; Environment; Health & Safety; and Women’s Issues. The WNC Vote Tracker also offers an overview of the state budget—arguably the most important legislation passed each year. The WNC Vote Tracker provides transparency and accountability from NC legislators by recording their votes on bills relating to Economic Security, Education; Environment; Health & Safety; and Women’s Issues. The vote tracker can also play an important role in helping voters make an informed decision in time for the November election.

“For over 40 years, our organization has been a strong advocate for low-income children and their families with our local and state policy makers,” says Allison Jordan, executive director of Children First/Communities In Schools. “And while we know that services are vital for families in crisis, we also know it is policy decisions that will ultimately make the biggest impact in ending child poverty in our community. Now in its third year, the WNC Vote Tracker is an important tool for WNC residents to stay civically engaged, and to keep our policy makers accountable to those in our community who are most in need of just and equitable policy decisions.”

Lead partners of the WNC Vote Tracker include: Children First/ Communities In Schools, Just Economics, Pisgah Legal Services, Mountain True, and Women for Women.

The guide highlights bills in the following categories:

• Economic Security: unemployment insurance eligibility, health insurance, housing security, access to public assistance, living wages, and the Earned Income Tax Credit.
• Education: issues of access to, and quality of, public education.
• Environment: air and water quality and other natural resources.
• Health and safety: health insurance, building safety, child safety, and reproductive health.
• Government and Democracy: local control of water resources, election and voting law changes, and repeal of the Racial Justice Act.
• Women: chosen for the additional impact they have on women’s health, economic opportunity, and rights.

The sponsors and partners of this effort represent a diversity of issues such as education, health, environment, women, and children. They come together with this effort to strengthen our democracy through accountability and informed citizen participation.

WNC Vote Tracker is available at www.wncvotetracker.org.

 

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Children First/Communities In Schools of Buncombe County is a local non-profit that provides programs and advocacy for economically disadvantaged children & families.

Just Economics of Western North Carolina (JE) is a regional, membership organization based in Asheville, NC. Our mission is to educate, advocate, and organize for a just and sustainable economy that works for all in Western North Carolina.http://justeconomicswnc.org/

Pisgah Legal Services fights to bring justice to the most vulnerable people in Western North Carolina – disadvantaged children, senior citizens, families at risk of homelessness and victims of domestic violence. PLS provides free civil legal aid to help more than 13,000 low-income people annually access justice to meet urgent needs each year. http://www.pisgahlegal.org/

Mountain True (formerly known as WNC Alliance): For more than 30 years, Mountain True has been a trusted community partner, marshaling grassroots support to keep our forests healthy, our air and water clean, and our communities vibrant. Utilizing a combination of policy advocacy, scientific research, and community collaboration, the Alliance and its chapters throughout Western North Carolina unleash the power of citizens’ voices to protect the natural heritage of our region so that people and the environment can thrive. For more information, please visit www.wnca.org.

Women for Women is a giving circle that brings women together in an engaging and meaningful way. By combining financial resources and working with others, Women for Women makes high-impact grants to improve the lives of women and girls in our region. Since January 2005, Women for Women has given more than $2 million dollars to programs helping women and girls in our region.