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Related: About this forumGetting money out of politics--Move to Amend events
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eridani
(51,907 posts)CALLING ALL PROGRESSIVES! If you want to see the disastrous Supreme Court decision in Citizens United vs. FEC nullified, PLEASE come to the Tacoma City Council meeting THIS TUESDAY, December 18, at 5:00 pm. (747 Market Street) The Council members will vote on a Resolution to add Tacoma to the list of cities, counties, and states across the country that are calling on Congress to amend the Constitution. This amendment is critical to say that corporations are not people and money is not speech. We need to get money out of politics, because nothing good will happen in this country until then!
eridani
(51,907 posts)First, by way of apology, most of you were not aware of the organizational conf. call we had yesterday because I sent out the notices to the wrong email address. Duh. The purpose of this email is to summarize what we discussed last night and bring everyone up to speed.
I am busy putting together the cast. I have confirmed Bob Wickline as the moderator and David Ludden has volunteered to perform the role of Justice Stevens speaking for the dissent. I have invited Mike Coburn who turned in a surprise fabulous performance of Justice Kennedy in Tacoma, and Deb Petri who performed one of the Ladies L & J (Liberty & Justice) to re-create their performances at the Oly rally. If they cannot, we will need to cast J. Kennedy--a major speaking role--and both of the Ladies L & J; as well as a number of corp. goons. If anyone wants to perform in the skit, or know someone else who would, please let me know ASAP, if not sooner. Dina Johnson will also be working on new, larger corp goon masks.
David will asking whether his brother, Bob, is able to take on the sound tech. duties. Also, we will need at least 3 mikes w/ stands and related elec. equip. to make it all work. The sound tech will be in charge of this part of the show, and we need to get someone to commit asap.
Bryan Eister of Public Citizen will be drafting to language for the publicity fliers. These will then go to Dina Johnson for layout. They then go to Oske who will get Free Speech for People to print them up. We will need hundreds, as we want the largest crown possible. Everyone will be asked to assist w/ distribution. Molly Gibbs of MTA/Oly and Steve Hamm of MTA/Oly will be looking into obtaining copies of an MTA tri-fold brochure for distribution at the rally.
Molly Gibbs will be putting me in touch w/ the Arquestra, a band from Olympia that performed with us in Tacoma; as well as other musicians who may be able to perform at the rally. I'm looking for ACTIVIST musicians, not just musical entertainment---songs on the subject of money in politics. If anyone has any suggestions or contacts, please let me know...asap, of course.
I am looking to have some speakers (no more than 3) on the subject. I understand that Seattle atty. Stephen Reisler is a committed and outspoken advocate for our position. If anyone knows him, please solicit his participation. Otherwise, I will contact him myself.
I would like to have a reliable videographer record the entire presentation for later distribution. Molly suggests we hire a professional, which is probably a good idea. She is looking into it; I expect to hear back from her within a few days.
Anthony Taylor is (today, hopefully) looking into a municipal permit to organize the theater group at Sylvester Park a few blocks from the capitol ground so we can march from there to the Supreme Court bldg. where I'm hoping we can do the performance. He is also looking into getting a permit to have the rally on capitol grounds. (Hey! What about our right to assemble to petition the government for redress of grievances??)
As you can imagine, I kind of have my hands full right now. Also, I'm not so good w/ media communications. I need someone to step forward to take charge of that entire project, which necessarily includes helping activists in every city in western WA spread the word in their respective communities. Please email me at the listserve address of call me at 253.514.6061 or my cell 253.225.4710. I think ideally this committee should consist of a group of volunteers, as it contemplates a rather large amount of work that should be broken up for us to be most effective.
Some of those on last night's call have already committed to contacting unions. We need them for a number of benefits: communicating with their memberships, supplying busses to shuttle people to Olympia from all over western WA, and providing big tents and/or canopies in the event of rain. If anyone has any union contacts, please let me know asap. In fact, what I would prefer is for someone to step forward and take charge of the whole union contacts project. I await your enthusiastic response!
Finally, each one of us needs to take responsibility for contacting everyone we know to participate in this rally; and asking them to contact everyone they know. We all have the organizations with which we relate in the coalition, and there are countless other potentially affiliated organizations which would be willing to contact their membership and participate in the rally--any organization that includes members who are adversely affectted by money in politics: environmental orgs, health & safety orgs, civil rights, climate, ... the list would be extensive. We all need to put on our thinking caps and contact as many of these orgs as possible. I have put together a partial list by way of example:
Organic Consumers Association
Equality Now
Democracy Now
People for Puget Sound
American Rivers
Cascade Bicycle Club
Climate Solutions
Conservation NW
Faith Action Network
Futurewise
Heart of America NW
The Lands Council
League of Conservation Voters
Sierra Club
Friends of the Earth
The Mountaineers
People for Puget Sound
NW Energy Coalition
The Nature Conservancy
Surfrider Foundation
Transportation Choices Coalition
WA Conservation Voters
WA Environmental Coalition
WA State Audobon
WA Toxics Coalition
WA Wildlife & Recreation Coalition
Alliance for Justice
Change Congress
American Independant News Network
Citizens for Responsibility & Ethics in Washington
Media Matters for America...
...to name but a few. If anyone has any connection with any of these orgs, or knows someone else who does, plz contact them to solicit their participation.
And finally again: all of these plans cannot be executed without some money. If any of the organizations participating in the coalition can promise any funding, please let me know. At this point, Bryan Eister has personally committed to $40; David Ludden to $20; Annie Phillips to $25; Oske to an amount to be determined by Free Speech for People; and myself to $25. I don't expect the budget to go much over $200, unless we decide to hire a videographer and/or have to rent our own canopies.
If anyone who was on the call last night remembers anything that I have overlooked, please add to this email so we can get everyone in the coalition up and running at full speed. We don't have much time before Jan. 17 rolls around.
I look forward to hearing from you all soon-
katie
eridani
(51,907 posts)Join with activists from all around Gig Harbor for a street Theatre presentation and rally at the state capital to demand that they join their voices with the American people in calling for a constitutional amendment to overturn the disastrous Citizens United ruling and restore democracy in America.
Organized by the stamp your money crusaders at
http://stampstampede.org/
The Idea: is for tens of thousands of people across the country to stamp messages on our nation's currency in support of passing a constitutional amendment to Get Money Out of Politics. As more and more stamped currency spreads, so will the movement to amend the Constitution. Scroll down to see how it works.
eridani
(51,907 posts)WAMEND coalition members –
We had a tremendously productive conference call tonight where we decided on a specific action plan which we will execute on January 17th.
Thursday, January 17th will be an organized day of citizen lobbying for a constitutional amendment. There will be a table in front of the state capitol where activists can “check in” to receive instructions on lobbying their representatives and background information to deliver to them.
Katie Keys has volunteered to anchor the table all day, and will need other volunteers to work shifts so that she can have some company, take breaks to warm up, and lobby.
A good number of organizations in Washington will be sending e-mails to their lists to invite their members to join our day of lobbying.
There are several things that will be needed to insure a successful event:
1) A table
2) Volunteers
3) A background information packet for citizens to deliver to the offices of their representatives. This packet will include:
a) A reference to the petition signatures collected in Washington demanding an amendment.
b) Polling data which makes it clear that democrats, republicans, independents, and everybody across the spectrum are positively fed up with the role of money in our political process.
c) Instructions for lobbying their representative.
d) A way, on location, for Katie (and other volunteers) to use consitutents’ addresses to determine who their representatives are and what their office number is.
-Brian Eister
Public Citizen
beister@citizen.org
202-588-7757
702-556-9674
eridani
(51,907 posts)Announcing special guest, Scott Silber, on a west coast tour, sponsored by Move to Amend, Olympia. Many others are co-sponsoring events in Seattle, and Portland. We will have fliers for all of these sessions on the Events page, as each is confirmed.
We need to know how many are attending each session, so please register at www.MovetoAmend.orgContact Molly at 360-412-1519, or Andrew at 360-359-8612 with any questions. Thank you!
About Scott Silber
Scott Silber is the former organizing director of Colorado's public workers' union and served as lead faculty at the Youth Organizing Institute at Johns Hopkins University's Center for Constitutional Studies and Democratic Development. Since 1994 his campaigns --in three dozen states and four continents to date-- continue to add to a community-based toolbox for grassroots empowerment. He works nationally today on "Intervention 2013," a strategy for worker and student walkouts demanding a New New Deal process, beginning with an amendment abolishing corporate personhood and making all electoral campaigns publicly funded.
Scott is the Executive Director of National Intervention, which treats money in politics as an addictive substance. Intervention calls for a national deadline for the ratification of any amendment that abolishes corporate personhood and requires publicly funded elections, viewing any such amendment proposal as an urgent "sobriety checkpoint" for any elected official.
In the event Congress fails to pass that amendment "sobriety test" in time, National Intervention organizes a block-by-block "12-Step National Recovery Platform" campaign, calling on all of us who may be enablers of the addiction system to draw strong boundaries in our relationship to the addicts in power for a new social contract (a New New Deal) while we still have time. Climate Crisis is fueling our urgency. See www.nationalintervention.org.
IMPORTANT: Directions for the Georgetown campus, where the 7 hour training takes place Saturday, Feb 16th, at 6737 Corson Ave. South, are located at http://georgetown.southseattle.edu/general/directions.aspx--Please read them (so you don't arrive at the wrong campus!)
Dates and times: Fliers are posted at the top of MovetoAmendOlympia.org Events page, feel free to distribute widely.
Weds, Feb 13th, 1:30 pm Evergreen State College Seminar II Bldg, C 1107
Thurs, Feb 14th, 12:00 - 2:00 pm, 902 Columbia St, (9th and Columbia Bldg), Third floor conference room
Thurs, Feb 14th, Seattle pending finalization
Fri. Feb 15th, Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St., Olympia 6:30 pm (Tacoma friends join us)
Sat., Feb 16th, SSCC Georgetown campus, Bldg C, rm 212. Day long training, lunch provided. $40.
Sun, Feb 17th Portland UU Church, 7 pm -- TV session in the afternoon
Thanks so much for sharing widely. Fliers are posted on the Events page, where you can download them. We are trying to finalize the Seattle venue for a shorter talk. All of you would enjoy the full day at Georgetown, it will be inspiring, challenging and timely.
eridani
(51,907 posts)Washington Amend (WAMEND), a coalition of over a dozen groups, is making an effort to have Washington State join 11 other states (and growing) in requesting that the US Congress create an amendment to the US Constitution that will overturn the disastrous effects of the 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United vs. the Federal Election Commission. Cities and counties around the country and within Washington State have adopted supporting resolutions.
Now, as the Joint Memorial to Congress proposed by Senator Adam Kline and Representative Jamie Pedersen is about to be introduced in the Washington State legislature, a demonstration of popular support is needed. An immediate wave of phone calls and emails to senators requesting that they support Senate Joint Memorial 8002 and to House members to co-sponsor and support Pedersen's house bill will make it possible to pass this legislation in the 2013 session. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2013&bill=8002
You have a vital role to play, particularly if you have a Republican legislator. Despite the non-partisan nature of this effort, Republican legislators have been slow to support it. There is a serious possibility that without a wave of grass roots support that can produce bi-partisan legislative support, the resolution may die in committee.
What to do
Please email or phone your legislators - the sooner the better (find their contact information here
http://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/), and give them the following message:
(Senator _____ )I request that you support SJM 8002.... (Representative _______) I request that you support Representative Pedersen's joint memorial ....
calling on the U.S. Congress to create and submit to the states for approval a constitutional amendment to overturn the effects of the Citizens United decision.
Please inform me of your position on this issue."
eridani
(51,907 posts)It looks like our efforts to bring this up for a hearing have been heard:
Governmental Operations
Tuesday 2/5/13 10:00 am
Senate Full Committee - Senate Hearing Rm 2
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA
Public Hearing:
SB 5106 - Concerning the operation of county budgets.
SB 5133 - Ensuring growth management hearings board members meet qualifications relating to land use experience.
SB 5270 - Allowing motor voter preregistration for sixteen and seventeen year olds.
SB 5277 - Reducing costs and inefficiencies in elections.
SB 5320 - Requiring the county auditor to establish a minimum number of ballot drop boxes for counties and cities.
SB 5347 - Assuring the people's right to vote on initiatives that submit sufficient valid voter signatures.
SJM 8002 - Requesting an amendment to the United States Constitution to return the authority to regulate election campaign contributions to congress and state legislatures.
Remember you must sign up electronically if you want to speak to this issue. Contact your LD Senator's office to find out how and where to do this.
Even if you don't want to speak, if you can make this hearing and sign in in support, it will help.
eridani
(51,907 posts)In case you cannot be present for the Senate's Law & Justice Committee hearing next Tuesday on the 5th at 10 AM (see attached email for those who didn't get the first one) and/or you want to pass this on to others, the following link takes you to the page for SJM 8002.http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2013&bill=8002
That page has a button at the top thats says "Comment on this bill". That link will take you to a location where you have 1,000 words to express your concerns. This is a pilot program offered by the Legislature.
After you fill out your comments and hit "Submit", it will take you to a sign in page. If you haven't already used this system it will give you an immediate opportunity to set up an account. After filling out that information your comments will be accepted and acknowledged.
As a sample, here are the comments I submitted:
"Though this Memorial falls far short of addressing the larger specific issues that would insure a far better election system, it is worth supporting in order to let Congress know that Washington State's legislature, as the duly elected representatives of the People of the State, feel that our present election system, permitting undisclosed and unlimited expenditures, is not acceptable and that we join with those other states, counties and localities expressing great concern that a Constitutional Amendment addressing this issue is necessary in order to, at the very least, rescind the effects of the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 310 (2010). It is also important to note that this is a non-partisan issue with strong constituent and elected official support across the political spectrum as pointed out in numerous public opinion polls."
Please share this message far and wide.
Thanks for all you are doing,
Steve Hamm
eridani
(51,907 posts)Last night, on our third visit to the Sequim City Council, each complete with public comment sessions, they passed a resolution by 5-2. It was not everything we could have hoped for, but it is the first resolution passed in "purple" Clallam County!!
We submitted a very long resolution to them prior to our first visit to speak. They wanted to study and get the other side. They repeated that same argument at the 2nd visit. Then they responded with two very wimpy resolutions after the 2nd visit. We submitted another - shorter than our first resolution but that still had all the good stuff in it - in response, prior to the 3rd visit.
We did learn a valuable lesson with our 2nd submitted resolution in response to their two wimpy ones - do not write resolutions to say corporations only - make sure they include "artificial entities." Two of the 5 that voted in favor used that to refuse our resolution in favor of their own. Three wanted to go farther and made very good arguments echoing what we had presented to them and more. But they still voted for their own least-wimpy resolution.
It was telling that the only two - in the whole room of over 40 - who actively spoke out against doing anything were the two councilors that voted against it, and no one else. That is an encouraging reinforcement of public sentiment for all of us as we move forward on this.
Sorry for long run on sentences. Seemed to be the only way I could describe what happened.
Andrea Radich
Clallam Co. Move to Amend
eridani
(51,907 posts)Also on Wednesday, February 13, 6:00 pm in the Seattle Downtown Public Library Auditorium, the second forum will be held on Public Fiancing of Elections in the City of Seattle. At the first forum we heard from LA, San Francisco and Portland about their public financing programs. Wednesday, we will hear from the Brennan Center and others who have first hand knowledge of research on public financing of elections. Please pass this reminder on to anyone that might be interested.
Alice Woldt,
Executive Director, Washington Public Campaigns (www.washclean.org)
Lobbying Work Group Co-ordinator, WAMEND (www.wamend.org)
eridani
(51,907 posts)It is time.
Many of us have been working to end Citizens United ever since the cloudy day in 2010 when the Supreme Court said corporations could spend unlimited money on campaigns. The fight is heating up here in Washington State, so it is time to go big!
We hope you can join us for an exciting event to step up the battle against Citizens United.
WAMEND is the powerful anti-Citizens United group that you may not have heard of yet. We are a coalition of the many major local and national organizations who have been fighting behind the scenes to get big money out of politics. It is about time we opened the floodgates of public action--are you ready to be a part of it? Please come to the campaign kick-off on Saturday, March 9, from 2:00-4:00pm.
Tell me you can be there.
Seattle Labor Temple
2800 1st Ave
Seattle, WA
Saturday March 9, 2 pm
We can’t wait to see you there!
eridani
(51,907 posts)I want to take a moment to let you know how our ongoing fight to eliminate unlimited corporate spending in our elections is going, along with a recap of our Kick-Off event last month. First off, the movement to amend the Constitution to restore our democracy is getting stronger in our state—and it grows because of the work people have been putting in to calling their legislators, writing their papers, and petitioning in the streets. A big shout out to everyone for their work to-date!
WAMEND KICKOFF—
On Saturday, March 9, WAMEND hosted an outreach kick-off event to help build the movement in Washington to get big money out of politics. Over 100 people attended from all across the state, including Bothell, Kirkland, Tulalip, Auburn, Bellingham, Tacoma, Port Townsend, Edmonds, Port Angeles, Olympia, Bainbridge Island, and Spokane, and more.
Attendees were introduced to the work of WAMEND and our progress so far. People then split into groups to discuss moving this work forward on several fronts, such as building social media campaigns, passing resolutions in local municipalities, using art for direct action, reaching underrepresented communities and planning social events for the cause.
Folks leading the group breakouts are contacting others in the group to keep developing our skills in organizing others to get behind our movement. If you have any questions about the working groups, contact Chris at cesh@washpirg.org
WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY—
We've taken our fight to our lawmakers in Olympia. After the most recent hearing on HJM 4001—the resolution to overturn Citizens United and get big money out of our elections—it has become quite clear their actions will not be influenced in testimony, but in making our voices heard in the press. We have a story here--not to mention the people on our side. Let's have our story heard--the more, the merrier.
Below I've written a sample Letter to the Editor. Already, Mary Murphy from Spokane was able to take its elements and get it published in the Spokesman-Review (Spokane). The aim is to build as much public awareness that Washington citizens have a fighting chance to pass this resolution and remind them the consequences of falling short. The bill is tabled on 4/3, so the goal is to get our LTEs in the paper by Wednesday. Different papers have different submission requirements, so please keep a watchful eye on who you write to (for instance, the Seattle Times max number of words is 200--not 250). Happy writing, everyone! We've got some work to do!
HERE’S A SAMPLE LETTER TO THE EDITOR UNDER 250 WORDS:
The State Senate Governmental Operations and Elections Committee has now held two public hearings and received testimony on SBM 8002 and HJM4001, resolutions that call upon Congress to pass a constitutional amendment giving Congress and states the authority to regulate campaign financing. The support was clear and unanimous. Committee Chair Pam Roach, taken aback by the sheer demonstration of public support, boldly stated,
“I don’t care—right [or] left—I love people when they come together and want to make their government responsive…You being here will help make us do the right thing”
Amen, Senator. It seems this would be a no-brainer for Roach, given four-in-five Americans support passage of an amendment to overturn the decision and give Congress the authority to limit the amount of money corporations can spend on elections.
Washington stands to become the 12th state to go on record to amend the Constitution—the first requiring bipartisan support in order to pass. Roach and Committee cannot skirt around the issue any longer. If history has taught us anything, nothing can stop the people from what they want. Hold the vote!
WRITING A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
1. PROCESS: Submitting LTEs is much easier than submitting op-eds. However, LTEs should
not be seen as fall backs to submitting op-eds. Most newspapers state their policies for submitting LTEs in the paper (usually on the opinion page). Make sure you follow their procedures exactly. Follow-up with the editor of the letters page to be sure s/he received your letter, that it meets their requirements, and to ask when they are planning to print it. Make sure you have a strategy for who signs -- whether it’s PIRG, other groups, local officials, or an average citizen. In most cases you'll want to have one organizational letter signed by PIRG. (This should obviously be on letterhead and look professional.) Then you'll want a spate of letters from local activists. These can't be identical although they need to express a consistent message. In addition to focusing on major dailies, be sure to get your message out to small community papers and alternative weeklies too.
2. CONTENT: What is true for op-eds is true for LTEs. However, a couple of additional points
are highlighted below:
• Make one clear point in your letter and stick to it!
• Convey your outrage, but avoid exaggeration. With LTEs, it is fine to express feelings of
anger or of frustration but avoid overstatement, hyperbole, and hysteria.
• If you can tie your letter to a recent article in the paper it is more likely to be printed.
• Use your personal experience. Express your concern about the issue in your own way.
Example: "I was in the supermarket when I noticed how wasteful much of our packaging is
..." or "Even my 10 year old daughter understands the importance of recycling."
• Short letters get printed. Clever letters get read!
3. SAMPLE OUTLINE:
• State the problem/topic (with an emphasis on why you personally are concerned), e.g. “our
country is too dependent on fossil fuels and nuclear power”
• Give a rich description of the problem to make it more real for the reader, e.g. "air pollution
is making Los Angeles a less livable place…"
• State the solution, both generally and specifically, i.e. "we need to invest in clean,
renewable sources of energy …" or "our elected officials should vote for energy policy that
puts us on a clean energy path.”
• Summary: Wrap it up with the final why (again, the more personal the better). A single,
well written sentence wins your audience.
Best of luck! Looking forward to seeing what we get published.
--
Chris Esh
Program Associate
tel (206) 659-1656
mobile (360) 929-9672
eridani
(51,907 posts)For those of us who can make the trip to Olympia, the Senate committee will hold a hearing next Tuesday, the 26th, at 10:00 AM on the restore the people's role in elections resolution written by Jamie Pederson and Adam Kline that passed through the House recently. If you can make it and want to let the committee chairperson (Pam Roach, who was quite reasonable at the earlier hearing) know that no one has forgotten about this issue, please plan on visiting.
eridani
(51,907 posts)In the near future, Washington Senators will vote on a bill calling for a constitutional amendment to get big money out of our elections and overturn Citizens United. The bill, HJM 4001, has already passed the House and is awaiting a committee vote in the Senate.
Our campaign has been going well, but we need your help. Now is the time to mobilize fellow citizens to ensure they are educated and energized about our efforts to restore democracy.
Allies all across the state are planning activist trainings in support of Washington’s amendment bill HJM 4001. By attending one of these trainings, you can add your voice to the growing coalition in Washington who believe democracy is for the people.
These meetings will be taking place:
Where: Kirkland -- Kirkland Library 380 Kirkland Ave, Kirkland WA 98033
When: Monday, March 25 at 7:00 pm
Where: Walla Walla -- 660 Pleasant Street. Walla Walla, Washington 99362
When: Wednesday, March 27 at 7:00 pm
Where: Spokane -- Liberty Park United Methodist Church 1526 E. 11th Ave. (at Helena) Spokane, WA 99202
When: Thursday, March 28 at 7:00 pm
We hope you can attend!
And if you have friends and/or family that live in the area of one of these meetings, please forward this message and encourage them to join in. By attending and spreading the word, you’ll shine a light on the toxic influence of money in politics and take an important step in helping to restore the integrity of the American electoral process.
Onward,
Calvin Sloan, Legislative Representative
eridani
(51,907 posts)Are you ready to join us for our Regional Grassroots Democracy Convergence in Portland, Oregon, May 3-5? REGISTER TODAY!
This event will bring you together with Move to Amend activists and supporters from throughout the surrounding region, and will be a valuable opportunity to:
★ Receive training in the skills you’ll need to organize more effectively in your community and beyond;
★ Strategize how best to build this movement on the local, state, regional, and national levels; and
★ Network, brainstorm, and cross-pollinate with other Move to Amend groups and supporters in your region.
REGISTER TODAY!
Move to Amend Grassroots Regional Democracy Convergence!
Friday, May 3 to Sunday, May 5, 2013
Portland Community College -- Cascade Campus
705 N Killingsworth St
Portland, OR 97217
If you pay in advance before April 1 we will give you a copy of the book Corporations Are Not People!
http://movetoamend.nationbuilder.com/portland_2013_convergence?utm_source=movetoamend&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=portland_conve2&recruiter_id=201732
Move to Amend is continuing our regional gatherings across the United States in 2013. These events bring you together with Move to Amend activists and supporters from throughout your region of the country. Let’s amplify and multiply the power of all our great local organizing by building deeper organizational connections, and kick it up a notch!
eridani
(51,907 posts)You are invited to attend the Campaign Finance Reform Forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters Seattle-King County on Thursday, April 4, 2013, 7:30 PM at First Baptist Church (Harvard and Seneca in Seattle). League forums are free and open to the public.
WPC Executive Director Alice Woldt will report on current statewide issues and Seattle City Council member, Nick Licata, will introduce a proposal for public funding of political campaigns for Seattle City Council.
Audience questions will be entertained.
Please distribute widely.
Thank you,
Alice Woldt, Executive Director
Washington Public Campaigns
eridani
(51,907 posts)$ 2 BILLION DOLLARS
That's how much money was spent in 2012 on just the Presidential election.
After Citizens United, PACs don't have to disclose the identity of their donors, and there are NO limits on how much corporations and wealthy individuals can spend to influence election.
Power in a democracy that belongs to We the People!
To make that a reality, we have to amend the Constitution to state "Corporations Are Not People"
and "Money Is Not Speech".
Join us for Freeway bannering event in Federal Way!
May 10th, 2013
4:00 - 5:30 pm
I-5 Overpass on 320th
Federal Way
RSVP for bannering
http://movetoamend.nationbuilder.com/farcaster/corporations_are_not_people_freeway_bannering_in_federal_way?recruiter_id=6471
Also-after bannering (at 6pm), join us at Starbucks at the Commons (on 320th) in Federal Way to discuss forming a Move To Amend affiliate for King County
eridani
(51,907 posts)Ashley Sanders, an organizer for the Move to Amend coalition, will be touring Washington from September 22-29 to help local residents understand how they can work to abolish "Corporate Personhood" and establish a government of, by, and for the people by joining the Move to Amend campaign.
Ashley Sanders tells the history of the American Constitution as it pertains to corporate personhood and illegitimate but legal corporate constitutional rights, followed by facilitated discussion/Q and A. Her talk, "Organizing to End Corporate Rule & Get Money Out of Politics," aims to help local folks understand how they can work to abolish corporate personhood and establish a government of, by, and for the people.
Move to Amend is a coalition of over 300,000 people and organizations whose goal is to amend the United States Constitution to end corporate rule.
September 22-29 are open for events in these places if we can find folks on the ground who will help us out:
Spokane (Sept 22)
Richland (Sept 23)
Yakima (Sept 24)
Tacoma (Sept 25)
Olympia (Sept 26)
Seattle (Sept 27)
Bellingham (Sept 28)
State Meeting in Seattle (Sept 29)
And wherever else you may be!
We have media resources and other support materials to help you. Click here for details about what is needed to be a Move to Amend Community Event Organizer.
If you are interested in helping organize and plan an event in your area, please contact the national office's Barnstorming Team at barnstorming@movetoamend.org or (707) 269-0984.
➤ If you cannot pitch in beforehand, will you please forward this message to other active citizens and organizations who may be able to help us out?
https://movetoamend.org/bring-move-amend-your-community
Please help bring Move to Amend and the constitutional amendment campaign to your community to grow the movement in the great state of California!
Best,
John Gallagher
Move to Amend Barnstorming Team
eridani
(51,907 posts)Move to Amend invites you to an evening presentation by Ashley Sanders a Move to Amend national spokesperson touring the state of Washington this September to build connections, inspire activism, and reveal the origins of corporate power in America.
In her presentation “Organizing to End Corporate Rule and Get Money Out of Politics”
Ashley will cover the hidden history of both corporate rule and democracy in this country AND talk about how we can build a democracy movement and take power back for the "We the People."
Ashley is a long time community activist from Salt Lake City. Ashley worked for Democracy Unlimited in 2009 and helped to form the Move to Amend coalition. She founded the Salt Lake affiliate of Move to Amend and serves on the National Executive Committee. Ashley helped to organize Occupy DC Freedom Plaza and was involved in Occupy Salt Lake. Ashley is one of the people interviewed in the award-winning film, "American Autumn: An OccuDoc," a documentary about the Occupy movement.
Ashley works for Peacful Uprising, a climate justice organization in Salt Lake, and is fighting to stop the first tar sands mine in the country that is slated to begin operations in Southeastern Utah.
Move to Amend is a non-partisan coalition of over 300,000 individuals and organizations whose goal it is to amend the US Constitution to end corporate rule and get money out of politics. Please join us for this event!
All events are free and open to the general public. Move to Amend finances these tours through the generous donations of event attendees. Click the links below for more info.
Note: All times are PST
•September 22 - Spokane, 5:00pm at Spokane City Hall
•September 23 - Kennewick/Richland, 6:30pm at Kennewick Public Library
•September 24 - Yakima, 6:30pm at Unitarian Universalist Church of Yakima
•September 25 - Bellingham, 6:30pm, at Norway Hall
•September 26 - Vancouver, 7:00pm at Clark County PUD Community Room
•September 27 - Olympia/Tacoma 6:00pm at Thurston County Court House
•September 28 - Seattle, 6:30pm at Town Hall Seattle
Barnstorming
http://movetoamend.nationbuilder.com/
eridani
(51,907 posts)First of all, if you either came to the Ashley Sanders - Sept 28 event or helped put it together, THANK YOU so much for making it a big success and certainly a memorable one.
We were very fortunate in that 3 separate videographers filmed it and the link below is from Todd Boyle who was the first to get his YT clip back to me. I think he did an excellent job editing down to the nuggets of a rather long (but necessarily so) meeting/rally presented by Jay Heyman & Ashley Sanders. She did an incredible job tracing the last 500 years of US and some European history that gave rise to corporate power as we know it today. Ashley argues passionately and convincingly that we need to know and understand our history as we build a movement that will bring about this level of change.
Check out the film. Feel free to send it on to others.
http://m.
eridani
(51,907 posts)Matt Taibbi in Seattle, October 2, Sightline 20th Anniversary Series
FROM Ann Martin TO 2 recipients Show Details FromAnn Martin Towsdwomen@yahoo.com Anna Fahey, Sightline Institute BCCfomalhaut2003@yahoo.com Some of you may remember when Eric de Place from the Sightline Institute spoke to us about his research on the impacts of coal trains on our region earlier this year. Well, this turns out to be the 20-year anniversary of Sightline, previously the Northwest Environment Watch. As a part of the anniversary celebration, Sightline has been sponsoring a series of presentations by the very best thinkers of our times.
The next presenter is Matt Taibbi, who will be at Seattle Town Hall the evening of October 2nd. His topic will be Money in Politics, a subject near, if not dear, to our hearts. Here is the link that will let you register and get tickets for this event:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/nbnr/442490
eridani
(51,907 posts)Join our rally on October 8th at 12 PM on the steps of the U.S. District Court in Downtown Seattle to push back as the Supreme Court considers a new case that could unleash even more big money in our elections.
You might think that when the Supreme Court opened the door to unlimited and secret corporate political spending with Citizens United, that was as bad as things could get.
But you'd be wrong.
On October 8th, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission. Large donor Shaun McCutcheon is suing the FEC to lift the overall limit a person can contribute to political candidates and parties. If the Supreme Court rules in his favor, it would hand over even more power to wealthy special interests to drown out the voice of the people in our elections.
Please join us on October 8th at 12 PM on the steps of the U.S. District Court in Downtown Seattle to send a message: Stop messing with our democracy.
The overall contribution limit is already more than twice the average American family’s annual income. This decision could allow a handful of special interests to further dominate our political process by allowing donors to give up to $3.5 million to candidates and parties.
Elections are at the center of our democracy. So when just a few mega-donors can outspend everyone else, it diminishes the public’s voice.
So please: Join us on October 8 at 12 PM on the steps of the U.S. District Court in Downtown Seattle for the McCutcheon vs. FEC, Money vs. People Rally.
We need to stand up for our democracy and make sure the country hears about the decisions that could drown out the political voice of average citizens.
Join us:
What: McCutcheon vs. FEC, Money vs. People Rally
Where: Steps of the U.S. District Court – Seattle, 700 Stewart St.
When: October 8th at 12 PM You can RSVP for the rally here.
Thanks for your support,
Micaela Preskill
WashPIRG Advocate
eridani
(51,907 posts)Workshop Info Sheet
Four pilot sessions – get in at the beginning and help us make them better! But if you can’t make it to one of these, there will be more scheduled for early in 2014.
November 23, 2013
2pm - 5pm or earlier
Saltwater Universalist Unitarian Church
25701 14th Pl S, Des Moines, WA 98198
November 24, 2013
2pm - 5pm or earlier
Greenlake Library (downstairs meeting room)
7364 East Green Lake Dr N, Seattle, WA 98115
December 7, 2013
2pm - 5pm or earlier
Home of Ann Martin in West Seattle
Registrants will be contacted with address
December 8, 2013
2pm - 5pm or earlier
Home of Dorothy Van Soest in Ravenna district
Registrants will be contacted with address.
Pre-Registration required, limited to 12 attendees per session. Attendees will receive a kit containing DVDs and written material. Donation requested for kit: $10. One kit per couple or individual. To register, please call Libby Carr, 206-937-8721 or email libbycarr007@gmail.com
