[PAA-Discuss] (no subject)

[Lee Loe]

Dear MoveOn member, 

Yesterday, the Supreme Court announced a disastrous rollback of campaign
finance laws. Their 5-4 decision gives corporations free rein to spend
unlimited amounts of money on elections. 

As The New York Times put it, this "opens the floodgates" for corporate
money.1

It's a horrible decision. But we can undo some of the damage if Congress
passes public financing of elections, which would give progressives and
populists who don't have industry backing the ability to compete. 

There is already a public financing bill, the Fair Elections Now Act, with
significant, bipartisan support.2 Congress, which right now desperately
needs to show that it's on the side of the voters instead of corporate
interests, should rush to pass it.

Will you sign our petition urging Congress to make sure our democracy
represents the people, not corporations? Clicking here will add your name to
this critical petition:

http://pol.moveon.org/fairelectionsnow/o.pl?id=18671-537450-B8FMQJx
<http://pol.moveon.org/fairelectionsnow/o.pl?id=18671-537450-B8FMQJx&t=3>
&t=3

The petition says: "Congress must act now to make sure voters-not
corporations-have control of our elections. Pass public financing to make
our elections fair."  

Corporations are already running roughshod over our democracy-just look at
the health care fight. But now it's actually going to get far worse.

With this Court decision, Big Insurance could spend as much as they want to
support Joe Lieberman in his efforts to keep watering down health care
reform. And ExxonMobil or BP can spend millions to elect candidates who
oppose clean energy. It's a disastrous decision with a disastrous outcome.

Fixing the problem of corporate money in politics is a long-term fight-and
public financing is the best first step. With the Fair Elections Now
legislation, candidates could get off the corporate fundraising treadmill
and raise enough from small donors to be seriously competitive. If this bill
passes, 95% of House members would get the same or more money than they
spent in 2008-and they'd still be able to raise small contributions beyond
that.3

The Fair Elections Now Act is being spearheaded by Democrat John Larson and
Republican Walter Jones in the House. And it's already won the support of a
wide range of good-government groups who want to see Congress doing the work
of the people.

This is our best chance ever to advance the cause of public financing for
fair elections. The idea's been proven in numerous states. And with this
Supreme Court decision, members of Congress are getting nervous about having
to compete against a wave of corporate cash. Change is now possible.

Can you sign our petition today urging Congress to pass public financing?
Clicking here will add your name:

http://pol.moveon.org/fairelectionsnow/o.pl?id=18671-537450-B8FMQJx
<http://pol.moveon.org/fairelectionsnow/o.pl?id=18671-537450-B8FMQJx&t=4>
&t=4
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