What are open government organizations doing about Citizens United?

[James Salsman]

As I am sure you all know by now, the Citizens United v. FEC decision
has allowed unlimited anonymous campaign donations, including from
foreign entities, via 501(c)4s and super PACs. There is no question
that this would put an end to transparency in some very dangerous
ways.

I've asked the Sunlight Foundation Board to endorse Lawrence Lessig's
Anti-Corruption Pledge -- http://www.theanticorruptionpledge.org --
but I haven't heard a peep back. Could someone please find out the
status of that?

Also, I have been working on https://sites.google.com/site/amendmentact
"the Constitutional Amendments Referenda Act" which includes a number
of pro-transparency measures, starting with Lessig's "The 28th"
amendment to overturn Citizens United and institute public campaign
finance, along with whatever else people have been asking me to put on
it, and I am very interested in feedback. Since it's opportune, I
might as well ask for endorsements for that, too, or any subset of the
20 referenda it has so far. If you like it, please spread the word. I
plan to have it polished up in a couple days, in time for the 200 days
until Election Day mark. Before or after, please don't be shy with
questions.

Best regards,
James Salsman

[John Wonderlich]

Hi James,  

I'm not sure about your request to the board, but I'm Sunlight's Policy Director, so I can tell you we're very unlikely to endorse the pledge, because public financing of elections is beyond the scope of our mission.

thanks,

John

[James Salsman]

Hi John,

On Apr 18, 8:56 am, John Wonderlich wrote:
>
> I'm not sure about your request to the board, but I'm Sunlight's Policy
> Director, so I can tell you we're very unlikely to endorse the pledge,
> because public financing of elections is beyond the scope of our mission.

I'm sorry if lead you to believe that Lessig's Anti-Corruption Pledge
is related to public campaign finance; it is not. His "The 28th"
constitutional amendment proposal is, which I referred to in my third
paragraph as the first of my proposed http://j.mp/amendmentact
referenda. I'm sorry that I confused you.

The Anti-Corruption Pledge simply says: "I hereby pledge to do
whatever it takes to end the corrupting influence of money in our
government." -- http://www.theanticorruptionpledge.org/take-the-pledge

Given that the current situation involving the influence of money in
the US government allows for zero transparency and zero
accountability, through unlimited anonymous foreign money donations to
any candidate or cause, I hope that the Pledge is compatible with the
Sunlight Foundation's Mission. Please let me know either way.

Best regards,
James Salsman

[Soren Dayton]

Maybe I am confused. Isn't public funding the first item on the pledge?

http://www.theanticorruptionpledge.org/take-the-pledge/ 

[John Wonderlich]

To take the pledge, you must commit to something for this cause. At a minimum, you agree to be counted. Ideally, you recruit others, including candidates for Congress. You choose the principles that you commit to. If you're a candidate, you can choose the specific proposals that would enact those principles.

 I am a candidate or a member of Congress. 

 

I support reform that would:

• Provide that public elections are publicly funded.

• Limit, and make transparent, independent political expenditures.

• Close the revolving door between Congress and K Street.

• Reaffirm that when the Declaration of Independence spoke of entities "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights," it was speaking of natural persons only.

Signed:

[John Wonderlich]

Also this:

 Ideally, you recruit others, including candidates for Congress.

...sunlight woudn't do.

[James Salsman]

On Apr 18, 11:44 am, Soren Dayton <soren.day...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Maybe I am confused. Isn't public funding the first item on the pledge?
>
> http://www.theanticorruptionpledge.org/take-the-pledge/

No, that is the first of four optional interest group items on the
pledge sign-up form. They are:

(I support reform that would:)

1. Provide that public elections are publicly funded.

2. Limit, and make transparent, independent political expenditures.

3. Close the revolving door between Congress and K Street.

4. Reaffirm that when the Declaration of Independence spoke of

entities "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,"
it was speaking of natural persons only.

One need not subscribe to any or all of those to take the Anti-
Corruption Pledge.

Best regards,
James Salsman

[Ernestine]

I heard a speaker Tues, Ray McGovern who is long-time career CIA anlyst and
now turn sort of "peacenik". He said the Obama administration was less
transparent than W. Bush's .

Anyone have any info on that issue?

Ernestine Krehbiel