Now we can expect the 2010 and 2012 election cycles to take campaigns to entirely new heights in Corporate America’s mad-dash purchase of power over "We the People". Last week, one Representative began a pre-emptive strike. It's more important than ever that we demand that Rep Alan Grayson's bills be moved forward and enacted to protect "We the People" of the United States.
"The Supreme Court has ruled that corporations may spend
freely to support or oppose candidates for president and
Congress, easing decades-old limits on their participation in
federal campaigns.
The court on Thursday overturned a 20-year-old ruling that
said corporations can be prohibited from using money from
their general treasuries to pay for campaign ads. The
decision almost certainly will also allow labor unions to
participate more freely in campaigns and threatens similar
limits imposed by 24 states."
http://www.nytimes.com/...
HR 4434 End Political Kickbacks Act of 2009 will limit government contractors from making unlimited contributions in order to win or keep government contracts. This would prevent the Haliburtons and Blackwater (now named Xe) types from paying off politicians to keep their gravy train rolling down the tracks. Linked here: http://www.washingtonwatch.com/...
HR 4431 Business Should Mind Its Own Business Act will levy an excise tax on on corporate contributions to political committees and on corporate expenditures on political advocacy campaigns. Linked here: http://www.washingtonwatch.com/...
HR 4432 Corporate Propaganda Sunshine Act would require public companies to report certain expenditures made to influence public opinion on any matter other than the promotion of the company's products or services. So when the fishing industry sets up an astroturf site declaring that mercury isn’t dangerous and that pregnant women should eat more fish "We the People" will be able to make better informed decisions about how trust-able that information may be. Linked here: http://www.washingtonwatch.com/...
With all Representatives up for re-election in Nov 2010, now is the time to demand that your Representative co-sponsor (not just vote for, but co-sponsor) the three bills introduced by Representative Grayson to hold corporations in check. Now is the time to demand that your Senators introduce the companion bills in the Senate.
Contacting your Representative:
At any of the links, on the right side, under "Take Action" you'll see "Write your representative". Clicking that will take you to where you can find them, then eventually go to their web sites. Sort through that to send an email to them demanding that they CO-SPONSOR the bills (not just vote for it, but co-sponsor it)
Below is what I wrote - if nothing else, you can cut and paste the list of bills from it:
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This is my request that Rep (my guy) co-sponsor the following bills to protect our democratic process.
End Political Kickbacks Act of 2009 (HR 4434)
Business Should Mind Its Own Business Act (HR 4431)
and
Corporate Propaganda Sunshine Act (HR 4432)
If Rep (my guy) does not co-sponsor these bills, I will vote for anyone who is not him in the fall election.
Demanded with all due respect,
(my name)
Zip code: (my zip)