MESSAGE FROM OUR FOUNDER…DM FIELD STAFF…DM FACEBOOK…NEW BOOK…CONGRESSIONAL FUNDRAISING…IDEA OF THE MONTH…MONEY ON MY MIND…QUOTE OF THE MONTH…FACTS YOU CAN USE
A MESSAGE FROM OUR FOUNDER
Welcome to Democracy Matters and E-News 2014. Students in DM campus chapters from Massachusetts to California and Texas to Minnesota are planning great events to mobilize campus political engagement to get big money out of politics and people back in!
Fifty years after students played a critical role in the Civil Rights Movement, I’m so proud that Democracy Matters students are continuing the fight to deepen our democracy. Join me in reading our E-News every month to celebrate our victories, keep up on the latest happenings, and help us make democracy work for everyone – fairer, more inclusive, and of, by and for the people.
THE GREAT DM FIELD STAFF
Anita Kinney returns to DM for her third year. She lives in North Carolina and will be working with students on a wide variety of campuses. anitak@democracymatters.org
Max Stahl joins us this year as Director of Political Engagement. Max has wide experience in grassroots organizing both on and off campuses. He will be working with our New England campuses. maxs@democracymatters.org
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK
Like the Democracy Matters Facebook page for DM happenings and timely information about getting big money out of politics and people back in.
NEW BOOK: CHANGE ELECTIONS TO CHANGE AMERICA
Professors Joan and Jay Mandle’s new book explores the 13 year experience of campus organizing on money in politics and the prospects for the emergence of a strong social movement that will change America.
Click on the picture to read a sample and pre-order.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1nt44kC
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1oQHMhR
Independent bookstores: http://bit.ly/1rTgSIz
CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
The fight to get big money out of Congressional campaigns is led in the Senate by Dick Durbin (D-IL) whose Fair Elections Now Act (S 2023) would provide qualified candidates with public funding to replace campaign fundraising from large donors and special interests.
In the House of Representatives, John Sarbanes (D-MD) is the lead sponsor of HR 20, the Government by the People Act, which would combat the influence of big money politics, raise civic engagement, and amplify the voice of everyday Americans. The Act is already co-sponsored by 160 House members.
For information on the New Hampshire Rebellion and New York Fair Elections see upcoming DM E-News.
IDEA OF THE MONTH: Celebrate Constitution Day September 17
On Constitution Day, Democracy Matters chapters will be informing their campuses about the movement to Amend the Constitution in order to overturn Citizen’s United – the Supreme Court decision that allows unlimited corporate spending to influence campaigns and politics.
For more information check out Democracy Is For People and People for the American Way.
MONEY ON MY MIND
This month, Mandle turns to the crisis in Ferguson, MO. He examines the connection between the political alienation of its African-American population and a political system funded by private money, where ordinary Americans have little say.
Read the full article and explore other issues of MOMM.
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“There is near consensus in the empirical literature that politicians’ positions more accurately reflect the views of their donors than those of their constituents.”
Professor Nicholas Stephanopoulos, University of Chicago Law School.
FACTS YOU CAN USE: 2014 FUNDRAISING (Already!!)
With the election four months away (the biggest fundraising months), by early August Congressional candidates were already rolling in big bucks from direct contributions to their campaigns:
HOUSE Total = $751 Million (Average per candidate = $687,638)
SENATE Total = $410 Million (Average per candidate = $2.8 Million)
To honor our 2013 activists, we list ten Democracy Matters chapters in each E-News:
A & T State University Greensboro…Brown University…Colgate University…College of William and Mary…Dartmouth College…Elon University…Gettysburg College…Grand Valley State University…Hamilton College…Harvard University…