WAND - Women. Power. Peace. WiLL - The Women Legislators' Lobby
The Women Legislators' Lobby
WiLL is a national non-partisan network of women state legislators who work together to influence federal policy and budget priorities.
WAND Home
Who We Are
Take Action!
News Bulletins
Hot Topics
Events
Chapters
Partners
Resources
Press Room
Join Us
Support Our Work
Contact Us
WAND Programs
Click to go to WiLL Home Page
Women
Legislators' Lobby
Click to go to the WAND Education Fund Home Page
WAND Education Fund
Click to go to WAND PAC
WAND PAC
 
 
    WiLL Home         About WiLL         Benefits         Join         Action         Contact    

A link from your state capitol to the nation's capitol
February 2010| 202 544 5055

FEDERAL BUDGET FY 2011
On February 1, President Obama released his FY2011 budget proposal. His proposal to freeze all non-security related discretionary spending set off an energetic debate about the priorities reflected in his budget.

For over 15 years now, WiLL has been talking about the ways we can reduce the Pentagon budget without compromising our security, and we were glad to hear more people talking about it this year!

Check out the articles below to see what others are saying!

House Minority Leader John Boehner and Speaker Nancy Pelosi both call for including discretionary defense spending in any spending freeze.

Defense Analysts Blast Military Exemption to Spending Freeze

New York Times Editorial on the Defense Budget

  

Help fix the federal budget so it meets real needs: for jobs, for security!
State Legislators Sign Our Letter To Congress NOW!

Encourage Congress to trim the fat in the Pentagon budget and redirect that money to areas in the economy that generate more, and better, jobs--jobs that productively address some of the most pressing issues we face today (such as climate change and education).

Read our Federal Budget Letter and sign on now!

Last Year's (FY10) Letter| Last Year's (FY10)Press release

2009 WiLL/WAND National Conference
"Women at the Table of Power"
Save the date for 2011: September 18- 20 | Washington, DC
Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make the conference a wonderful, dynamic success!
Resources: Press Releases | Photos | Presentations | Evaluation Forms

(l to r): Krista Brewer, Bobbie Paul, Dianne Valentin, State Rep. Kathy Hawken (ND), State Rep. Kathy Webb (ND)

A Quinnipiac University National Poll finds: "Voters believe 59 - 33 percent that spending to create jobs reduces deficits because job holders pay taxes, rather than increasing deficits through waste."

Finding New Ways to Create Jobs
The military industry stays in business because it creates millions of jobs. But other projects can do even better. It's time to reinvest our public monies.

Welcome to new Congresswomen committed to change!

WAND PAC is excited to announce that five of our candidates were elected to Congress in November!

Rep. Debbie Halvorson (IL-11) | Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15)
Rep. Betsy Markey (CO-4) | Rep. Chellie Pingree (ME-1)
Senator Jeanne Shaheen (NH)

They join five other new WAND/WiLL Congresswomen who were won special elections in the last year:

Rep. Donna Edwards (MD-4) | Rep. Marcia Fudge (OH-11)
Rep. Laura Richardson (CA-37) | Rep. Jackie Speier (CA-12)
Rep. Niki Tsongas (MA-5)

This brings the number of WAND/WiLL women in the 111th Congress to 48. The WAND/WiLL reception on February 3, 2009 was an electric moment to welcome, educate, empower -- and celebrate! More info here.

We're especially pleased that TEN women from the ranks of WiLL ran for Congress this year. We've been working for years to establish a pipeline of progressive, pragmatic, skilled women who will run for higher office during their careers. It's a major step toward fundamental and lasting change!

l to r: Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI), WAND executive director Susan Shaer, Congresswoman Mary Jo Kilroy (OH)

Security and climate change: We need a new concept of "climate security" rather than military security.
WiLL/WAND has a new action guide about Climate Security; we encourage you to take action.

While the federal government fails to take meaningful steps to address climate change, state legislators across the country are passing innovative bills to deal with the issue. We urge state legislators to go even further and encourage their Congressional delegations to address climate change through the lens of the military budget.

The U.S. military contributes to the problem of climate change more than any other single institution worldwide. We spend billions of dollars every year on outmoded weapons systems that do not make us any safer. That money instead could fund programs to promote climate security—an investment that would truly keep us safer.

Use our action guide and contact the WiLL office for steps you can take to protect our climate! We have provided sample letters to the editor and a sample op-ed to help you educate fellow policymakers and the public. Please contact the WiLL office to assist you in media placement.
Click to go to WAND PAC

Click here to see the women in the 111th Congress who come from the ranks of WAND and WiLL.

Check out WiLL Trailblazers!
WiLL Trailblazers

WiLL Trailblazers is a network of former women state legislators who are working together to influence national policy to reduce violence and militarism and promote human and environmental well-being.

Pacesetters - WiLL's shining lights
State Directors - Women who make WiLL happen across the country
WiLL - The Women Legislators' Lobby Download the WiLL brochure

Don't just sit there!

Four! Count 'em! You can't get more than that!

 

 

 
©2010 WAND Inc.