Tell Rep. Towns: Washington is broken
Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2010 12:51 PM
To: Charles Lenchner
Subject: Tell Rep. Towns: Washington is broken
Representative Edolphus Towns
Phone: 202-225-5936
I called CongressDear MoveOn member,
Washington is broken, and it could get a lot worse after the Supreme Court allowed big corporations to spend unlimited amounts to buy elections.
Meanwhile, Democratic leaders have proposed a "small potatoes" reform plan that won't do much to stop the flood of corporate money and certainly won't satisfy voters who are fed up with Washington.
To really fix the problem, we need citizen-funded elections, so grassroots candidates can finally run and win without big corporate money.
But your representative, Edolphus Towns, hasn't yet come out for the Fair Elections Now Act, which would make citizen-funded elections a reality.1 And unless Democrats like Rep. Towns get on board now, there's a chance that there won't even be a vote on it.Can you call Rep. Towns today and urge him to cosponsor the Fair Elections Now Act? Here's where to call:
Representative Edolphus Towns
Phone: 202-225-5936
Then, please report your call by clicking here:
Citizen-funded elections have widespread bipartisan support and would provide the kind of fundamental change that other proposals wouldn't.2
Under the Fair Elections Now Act (H.R. 1862), candidates who only take contributions below $100 would receive four-to-one matching funds on every small donation made by a real constituent. Financing for the bill comes from a small fee on big government contractors and media corporations—the ones that profit most from all the TV ads during elections.3
Candidates would finally be able to run and win by gaining the support of small donors in their districts, rather than lobbyists and corporations. Voters would be put in the driver's seat, really changing the way Washington works.
However, in part because Democrats like Rep. Towns haven't gotten behind the Fair Elections Now Act, the Democratic leadership has proposed a small potatoes plan. Their proposal would require more transparency but do next to nothing to really stop the flood of corporate money into elections.4
Can you call Rep. Towns today and urge him to cosponsor the Fair Elections Now Act? Here's where to call:
Representative Edolphus Towns
Phone: 202-225-5936
Then, please report your call by clicking here:
Thanks for all you do.
–Steven, Marika, Stephen, Carrie, and the rest of the team
Sources:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86539&id=19112-2956118-zmGPrAx&t=4
2. "Supreme Court ruling fuels ire," Politico, February 9, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86430&id=&t=7&id=19112-2956118-zmGPrAx&t=6
3. "Breaking: Congress's response to Citizens United," Fix Congress First, February 11, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=86475&id=&t=7&id=19112-2956118-zmGPrAx&t=7
4. "Fair Elections Now Act Bill Summary," Public Campaign, accessed February 16, 2010
http://www.publicampaign.org/node/38166
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