March, 2010
IN THIS ISSUE:
CAMPUS HIGHLIGHT…DC FUNDRAISER…DM FORUMS…CA INITIATIVE…MONEY ON MY MIND…WOMEN’S HISTORY…HIRING…FACTS YOU CAN USE
CAMPUS HIGHLIGHT: SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY
Democracy Matters Southern Methodist University chapter has been creating a variety of ways to spread the word about how much democracy matters. When an article appeared in a local Dallas paper about the relationship between big special interest groups and candidates for Governor, DM members didn’t just read the article, they fired back by posting a comment online.
And after collecting student signatures on petitions calling for “Fair Elections” SMU members traveled to their Congressman’s office to engage him in discussing how to gain more Republican support for the Fair Elections Now Act. In reaching out to the wider Texas community in support of public financing, DM students have joined in coalition with organizations like the League of Women Voters, Clean Elections Texas and the Texas-based chapter of Public Citizen. And while SMU knows how to get some serious work done, they don’t forget to have fun. Their “Don’t Get Tricked” tabling event featured some really famous politicians (as in the picture above!).
More action campaigns.
DM ALUMS TO HOST DC FUNDRAISER
Three Democracy Matters Vassar Alums living in Washington, DC – Lauren Forbes, Caitlin Horrigan, and Petra Stankard – were so outraged by the Supreme Court decision allowing unlimited corporate political spending that they decided to do what DMers do – organize! They are hosting a “Happy Hour” on Thursday, March 11th to get others involved in support of “Fair Elections.” And YOU are invited. DM Executive Director, Joan Mandle, as well as representatives from Common Cause, Public Campaign and our other national allies will be there too. The “entrance” fee is $5, symbolizing what it costs individuals to help fund clean elections. If you have friends living in the DC area, please invite them to join us by forwarding our invitation: The Science Club, 1136 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 at 6:00 PM on March 11.
Click here to view the invitation.
FORUMS AND VIDEOS ON CORPORATE SPENDING
This spring, Democracy Matters chapters are making videos and holding forums and discussions on the harm done by the January Supreme Court decision that unleashed unlimited corporate political spending. Bri Dines and her DM chapter at Indiana University made a YouTube video to “put faces with the signatures” they collected on “Fair Elections” petitions. They delivered the petitions and the video to their Congressman.
And just this week DMers at New York University held an event called “Disaster for Democracy: What You Can Do About Corporate Political Spending.” The discussion explored how “Fair Elections” would curb the power of corporate spending to block reform on health care, the environment, banking regulation, and most recently on increased access to loans for college students (see Facts You Can Use below).
Watch the Indiana University video.
CALIFORNIA “FAIR ELECTIONS” BALLOT INITIATIVE
Democracy Matters and California Common Cause are part of a coalition fighting to pass public financing for the Secretary of State office in that state.
An exciting initiative (Proposition 15) will be on the ballot in the June 8th California election this year. The Proposition would create the option for candidates for Secretary of State to receive limited public financing for future races. The funding would come from a tax on state lobbyists. Passing Prop. 15 would put democracy back in the hands of voters. To get involved contact Anjuli at akronheim@commoncause.org.
MONEY ON MY MIND
In this month’s column, Jay Mandle takes up a recent article by Harvard’s Lawrence Lessig. Lessig argues that Congress has “developed a pathological dependence on campaign cash.” Agreeing with Lessig’s thesis, Mandle calls for an increased emphasis on grassroots organizing to successfully reform the way campaigns are funded.
Read the full article and explore other issues of MOMM.
CELEBRATE WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
Democracy Matters chapters this month are joining with campus women’s groups in celebration of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day (March 8th).
As we celebrate the many economic, political and social achievements of women world-wide, we are nevertheless reminded that in the United States women today still are underrepresented in elective office. They make up only 17% of Congressional representatives and 24% of state legislatures. Women of color members are 16.8% of Congress and 19.5% of state legislators.
Women’ s political inequality is dramatically affected by their difficulty in raising enough campaign funds to compete effectively. By passing public financing – “Fair Elections” in Congress and “clean elections” in states – women could finally take their rightful place in our political system.
Read more.
NOW HIRING: “FAIR ELECTIONS” ORGANIZERS
The Public Campaign Action Fund is hiring up to five full-time and five part-time regional organizers to work on a national campaign to pass the Fair Elections Now Act. The positions are initially funded for three months with the possibility of longer-term employment.
The full-time positions are based in or around New York City, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Chicago, and Los Angeles. The part-time positions are based in Miami, San Antonio, and Missouri. Additional part-time positions may be open in the Bay Area and in Seattle.
To apply, email a resume, references, and a writing sample to Solange Bitol Hansen at shansen@publicampaign.org.
Visit Public Campaign website.
FACTS YOU CAN USE:
STUDENT LOAN REFORM IN PERIL
In February the New York Times reported: “Four months ago it appeared all but certain that the White House and Congress would succeed in overhauling the college student loan business and ending governmental subsidies to private lenders.” The reform would take billions of dollars from the profits of private lenders and give them directly to students.
But today that reform is dying. The biggest student lenders have launched a fierce attack. Their Political Action Committees and employees made over $2 million in campaign contributions last year, and Sallie Mae, the nation’s leading lender, spent over $8 million on lobbying in 2009 alone.
In defense of the reform, President Obama declared: “No one should go broke because they chose to go to college.” The NY Times and many others have strongly urged Congress to pass the reform. The Times editorial of February 8th stated that the $80 billion over the next decade that would be saved by cutting the profits of private lenders would “be redirected into a variety of federal programs aimed at needy students. Congress would be putting the money to good use!”
To honor our 2010 DMers we list 10 DM chapters in each E-News.
Colgate University…Drury College…Fresno Pacific University…Georgia State University…Gustavus Adolphus College…Hamilton College…Hartwick College…Indiana University Bloomington…Marquette University…Mt. Holyoke College…(to be continued)
More Campus Chapters.