Fair Elections Action Week Coming Up

Fair Elections Action Week Coming Up

From November 12th to 16th Public Campaign will join with our partners at the Brennan Center for Justice, Common Cause, Democracy Matters, Public Citizen, and U. S. PIRG, for Fair Elections Action Week. The Fair Elections Now Act in the Senate, and similar legislation in House would bring full public financing to congressional elections – we need to get the word out, build support for this legislation, and amplify our call for elections that are about voters, not big money donors.

We’ve launched a new website with all the information you need about the Fair Elections Action Week, including a map with events happening in your area, a message board for activists, a press room with the latest news on Fair Elections and much more as we get closer to the week. Visit the site today and sign up to get involved. To make this action week a success, we need many of you dedicated supporters of Fair Elections to get on board. Stay tuned for more details as November 12th approaches!

In the States: Results Are in for Connecticut’s First Clean Elections Candidates

Connecticut saw the first participants in its new Clean Elections program go head to head this week in a special election to fill the seat of state Rep. Richard Beldon (R-CT), who passed away earlier this year. Both candidates in the special election, Republican Jason Perillo and Democrat James Orazietti, participated as Clean Elections candidates. When the ballots were counted Tuesday, Perillo emerged the victor. In addition to being a useful first test of the program before its broader use in next year’s general election, this election marked a turning point for a state so plagued by corruption it had earned the nickname “Corrupticut.” Perillo and Orazietti have paved the way for candidates from more districts to run as Clean Elections candidates and turn over a new leaf for Connecticut.

Our letter to the editor tool allows you to target your letter to papers in your area and we’ve even got tips and talking points you can refer to while you’re writing. Why do you support Clean Elections? Why should your neighbors support the Fair Elections Now Act in the Senate? Write a letter and tell ‘em! If your letter gets published be sure and send us a link to it so we can feature it in our blog!

Democracy Corner

What Is Our Democracy Agenda?

The Midwest Democracy Network has a question for all 2008 presidential candidates: what are you going to do about our democracy? Seeking to establish a democracy agenda for the next occupant of the White House, they have sent a questionnaire to candidates asking for their position on everything from public financing of presidential and congressional elections, to voter registration, to improving the Federal Election Commission. You can read the survey here, and click here to send a message to all the candidates asking them to respond to the questionnaire and put their democracy agenda on the record.

During the 2006 elections we put candidates on record in support of creating a public financing program for congressional elections – now we have legislation introduced in the Senate and the House to do just that. Let’s help the Midwest Democracy Network do the same!

Connecting the Dots at PoliticalBase.com

Check out a new website by Political Base that allows you to find out more on the connections between money, votes, and other actions at all levels of government. The interesting thing? The plan is to have this website be largely user-generated, and thus will constantly be improved by regular citizens all over the country. Check it out!

• HBO profiles democracy pioneer Granny D.
• Bill Allen shares the wealth...and the dirt.
• Money influences defense contracts? Say it ain't so!

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