DM NATIONAL STUDENT SUMMIT…CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS…MARCHING FOR CHANGE…DM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HONORED…MONEY ON MY MIND…QUOTES OF THE MONTH…FACTS YOU CAN USE
14th ANNUAL DEMOCRACY MATTERS SUMMIT
This year’s fabulous DM National Student Summit will be February 6th, 7th, and 8th in Albany, NY. Democracy Matters students from across the country will meet to share successes, organizing ideas, and strategic plans. Law Professor and New York gubernatorial candidate Zephyr Teachout will be this year’s keynote speaker.
Join us to meet experts in the field, network with other organizers, DM alumns and staff, and participate in hands-on workshops on campus organizing, money in politics, using the media, holding great events, and much more.
CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS
Democracy Matters at the University of Minnesota/Twin Cities is doing great organizing and outreach. Campus leader Anna Breen and her chapter screened Pay 2 Play, a new documentary that raises awareness about the problem of money in politics, as well as celebrating the “people power” that can bring real change. DMers table each week, have submitted op eds to their school and local newspapers, and host regular discussions designed to make people think about who really has the power in our society. This January, they are organizing a campus rally marking the 5th anniversary of the Citizens United decision. Congratulations to the DM chapter at U of M!
And congratulations to Travis Bennett, Democracy Matters’ leader at Plymouth State University, who was elected to the New Hampshire State House of Representatives in November. Travis will be representing students and young people as well as supporting campaign finance reform efforts in the state!
MARCHING FOR CHANGE IN FLORIDA & NEW HAMPSHIRE
At 90 years of age, Doris “Granny D” Haddock led others in walking across the entire United States in 1999 to highlight the critical need for campaign finance reform to save our democracy. Now other marches are being organized in her name:
FLORIDA:
81 year old Rhana Bazzini, walking “In Granny D’s Footsteps” will arrive in Tallahassee on December 3rd after marching the 330 miles from Sarasota to protest the devastating role of big money in our elections. Go Granny Rhana!
NEW HAMPSHIRE:
In January, join with activists from across the country for the third New Hampshire Rebellion’s “money out of politics” march. In addition to honoring Granny D who was a native of New Hampshire, the final day, January 21st, will feature events marking the 2010 Citizens United decision. Everyone is welcome!
Read about how you can join the NH walkers.
Read about Rhana.
DM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HONORED
Joan Mandle was honored at the 2014 Progressive Leadership Awards Gala sponsored by Citizen Action of New York. Mandle accepted the award on behalf of the Democracy Matters students and alumns who, since 2001, have worked so hard to create a more fair and inclusive democracy. Citizen Action is a grassroots membership organization that tackles the big issues – money in politics, quality education, racism and social justice – that are at the center of transforming society.
MONEY ON MY MIND
This month, Jay Mandle critiques Lawrence Lessig’s post-election evaluation of pro-reform Mayday PAC. Though Mandle agrees with Lessig’s commitment to political engagement, he believes that Lessig has overstated the PAC’s electoral accomplishments. Mandle argues that for candidates who support public campaign financing to win elections, they will have to combine their call for campaign finance reform with a promise to enact policies to materially improve voters’ lives.
Read the full article and explore other issues of MOMM.
QUOTES OF THE MONTH
Tuesday November 4th was the most expensive mid-term election ever (close to $4 Billion) with the lowest turnout in 70 years. The American public is fed up with a government of, by, and for big money funders!
“This year I traveled the country listening to voters, from Miami to Anchorage, 30 states and counting. And from the reddest rural towns to the bluest big cities, the sentiment is the same. People say Washington is broken and on the decline, that government no longer works for them – only for the rich and powerful.” Frank Luntz, NY TIMES, 11/6/14
“Big Money Wins Again in a Romp! Big funders want something for their money…they want to know that their bidding will be done.” Joe Nocera, NY TIMES, 11/8/14
“It’s a never-ending hustle. You get elected to this august body to fix problems and for the privilege, you find yourself on the phone in a cubicle, dialing for dollars.” Representative Donna Edwards (quoted by Nocera)
FACTS YOU CAN USE: CONNECTICUT SHOWS THE WAY WITH PUBLIC FINANCING
Last November, 85% of Democrats and 74% of Republicans running for the Connecticut State legislature used its public financing system. Since the CT legislature passed the “Citizens’ Election Program” in 2005, an average of 80% of legislative races have been won by publicly financed candidates. The Connecticut law was created with the following goals:
1) allowing candidates to compete without reliance on special interest money;
2) restoring public confidence in the legislative process;
3) increasing meaningful citizen participation.
Connecticut’s law as well as other small donor/public financing systems like that in New York City are models for other legislation, including the “Government By the People Act,” introduced into Congress this year with over 100 co-sponsors.
Read about Citizen’s Elections.
To honor our 2014 activists, we list ten Democracy Matters chapters in each E-News:
SUNY Potsdam…Union College…University of Minnesota…University of New Hampshire…University of North Carolina Greensboro…University of Pittsburgh…Vassar College…A & T State University Greensboro…American International College…Bennett College…