By Public Policy Chair

Marilyn Treiman

halamari1@juno.com
Text Box: Public Policy Text Box: Volume 29, Number 3 November, 2008 Page # Text Box: AAUW CONGRESSIONAL VOTING RECORD I hope you have all received a copy of the latest AAUW publication, the AAUW Congressional Voting Record for 2007-8. In it, the Association ranks all members of Congress on votes they have made on selected issues based on AAUW Public Policy priorities and principles. If you have not received it, just call me at 758-6337 and I’ll be glad to provide you with a copy so you can see how our national legislators voted during this biennium. In our district, it is only the US Senate race for which there is relevant election information since Peter deFazio is essentially running unopposed and as Darlene Hooley is retiring, the two contenders do not have records in the Congress. You will find that in the 110th Congress, Gordon Smith voted for legislation backed by AAUW 70% of the time. That is, he voted to support the AAUW position for seven out of ten selected bills. The same information as appears in the publication is also available online for at least six earlier Congresses. So it is Text Box: possible to trace Senator Smith’s voting record relative to AAUW priorities during his entire term of office. For the 109th Congress he voted in favor of the AAUW position on 20% of the issues; for the 108th, 43% ; for the 107th, 38%; for the 106th, 20%; for the 105th, 17%. The AAUW voting record also shows that Senator Wyden (who is not a candidate in this election) had a 90% rating for the 109th Congress and 100 % for all the others. BREAKING THROUGH BARRIERS—AAUW’S UNIFYING FOCUS The AAUW and AAUW Educational Foundation Boards have supported Breaking through Barriers as the unifying focus for AAUW. This program focus embodies our legacy, personalizes our mission and illuminates our path into the future. It captures both the spirit and the strategy implied by our new Value Promise. It becomes the foundation, the rationale and the catalyst for program initiatives that address societal needs. It announces that what we do brings value----to members, to those we Text Box: serve and to society. Breaking through Barriers - not breaking them down, is a way of describing our methodology. We make strategic decisions that identify barriers that we are prepared and equipped to attack, and select tactics that capitalize on the strengths of our association. Because of our size, 100,000 members, we “carry a big stick”. Because of our research, credibility is always a key part of our arsenal. Because of our history of achievement we have a reputation for effectiveness. Because of our commitment to investing in our mission--”putting our money where our mouth is”-our adversaries know that AAUW is a force to be reckoned with, and that we have “staying power” in our dedication to breaking through the barriers that we target. In announcing our new unifying focus, Breaking through Barriers, we are issuing fair warning - we ARE breaking through barriers. We mean it; we’ve done it before, and we are “coming after them” again…and again and again, if we have to! All of us, all the time. Watch for the next barrier breakthrough! We'll report on it!