FTP-MD: We're keeping up the pressure
Charlie Cooper
December 18, 2023
Colleagues, This year, we joined the national movement to expose corruption on the Supreme Court, and the pressure seems to be working. We will probably meet next on Monday, January 8. We do have a meeting tomorrow afternoon with Sen. Kagan's Chief of Staff regarding the bill to bar ineligible candidates from the ballot. If your organization desires to add its name to the list of those supporting this idea, please let me know ASAP. - Charlie, 410-624-6095
GMOM wishes you a peaceful and restful holiday season
With so much strife and suffering in the world, we try to make our small contribution by working to oppose those who are obsessed with profit and domination and by celebrating our allies who work for peace, justice, and sustainability.
John Lewis, left, risked everything for voting
rights. Granny D walked 3,000 miles at age 90 to spotlight campaign
finance corruption.
Report: The entire federal judiciary system has lax accountability
ProPublica reports on an investigation of the lack of enforcement of ethics by the Judicial Conference, which is chaired by the Chief Justice and has judges from the various federal courts as members. Access to previously undisclosed information has led to the conclusion that the Conference protects judicial perks rather than enforce accountability. The Judicial Branch undergoes the least oversight of the three branches. The Administrative Office that reviews judges' financial disclosure statements is purposely kept weak. The Judicial Conference has never referred a single case to the Department of Justice for investigation in 45 years.
In 2011-2, the Financial Disclosure Committee of the Judicial Conference refused to examine evidence after Clarence Thomas failed to report the source of his wife's income. She had received $700,000 from the conservative Heritage Foundation. An official appointed by President Clinton helped to kill this investigation. Certain reports on this incident are even today illegally kept from public view, and the Administrative Office routinely flouts public disclosure requirements.
Ginni Thomas, left, and husband Clarence. Their
dearest friends just happen to be very hospitable
billionaires.
GMOM and 12 allied organizations are working on an important bill
We are promoting a bill concept to remove ineligible candidates from Maryland ballots. We discovered that Maryland State law does not require that candidates on ballots be eligible to serve in the office for which they are running. The State Board of Elections has no procedures to determine that candidates who file for or are nominated for an office are eligible. In this age of hyper-partisanship and dirty tricks, we believe that Maryland should eliminate this vulnerability and also hold insurrectionists accountable as required by the U.S. Constitution. GMOM has put together a coalition of organizations to support a bill in the upcoming session of the General Assembly to rectify this troubling gap. We have appointments with key legislators in the House and Senate.
Sen. Cheryl Kagan, left, and Del. Jheanelle
Wilkins, right, are vice chairs of the respective committees that
consider election bills in the General Assembly.
News
Pew Research Center: As part of a major survey of views on the U.S. political system, 80% said big money has too much influence on politicians; 72% said that limits should be placed on the amount that can be spent by individuals and organizations; and almost 60% believed that the problem can be fixed by enacting laws.
Yahoo News: You probably know that two Black election workers from Georgia were awarded $148 million after suing Rudy Giuliani for defamation. He falsely accused them of fabricating votes for Biden. Nevertheless, the details of the threats they must endure are hair-raising. The workers testified to receiving lynching messages such as: "I pray I will be sitting close enough to hear your neck snap."
AP News: Maine voters enacted a referendum measure to limit influence of corporations with partial foreign ownership on Maine ballot measures. "The referendum, which was approved by about 84% of voters who cast ballots, bans foreign governments — or companies with 5% or more foreign government ownership — from donating to state referendum races. [Sic. The referendum actually bans spending, not merely donating. -- Charlie] "The proposal was put on the ballot after a Canadian government-owned utility, Hydro Quebec, spent $22 million to influence a project on which it's a partner in Maine. That hydropower corridor project ultimately moved forward after legal challenges." Now, utilities with foreign ownership are suing, and news media associations are worried that they will need to assess foreign ownership of advertisers.
GMOM and For the People -- Maryland teleconference
Meeting TBA
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Onward together,
Charlie Cooper
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Get Money Out - Maryland · Baltimore, MD 21209, United States
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