FTP-MD: Meeting this evening, 7:30 + Citizens DISUnited
Charlie Cooper
January 21, 2024
Colleagues, We have our usual teleconference this evening at 7:30 pm. Please see the box at the bottom of this message for details. - Charlie
Politicians have rewarded the billionaires these last 14 years
In the landmark Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC, the Court ruled that the First Amendment requires that billionaires and corporations be allowed to spend unlimited sums to influence elections.
Get Money Out–Maryland is an all-volunteer force seeking to get big money out of our political system and make elections fairer. Every citizen should have equal access to the ballot as a voter or as a candidate. District lines should be fair to every voter, regardless of race, ethnicity, or party affiliation. The corruption of big money in politics must be eliminated, and the disproportionate influence of concentrated wealth reduced. We favor a Constitutional Amendment whereby citizens overrule the Citizens United doctrine and declare that:
- The federal and state government should regulate money in politics to promote political equality;
- The rights in the Constitution are reserved for natural persons; and
- Every citizen (of age) has the right to vote and have that vote counted.
Never before, says Sen. Sanders, have the ultra-wealthy been so politically powerful.
- Since the Citizens United decision in 2010, the wealthy have poured money into U.S. political campaigns and have won policies to increase their wealth.
- They spent more than $1 billion in the 2022 mid-term election, up 75% from 2018 and 300 times more than in 2010!
- One of every 9 dollars in total political contributions in 2022 came from fewer than 500 wealthy families.
- Since the Trump tax breaks were enacted at the end of 2017, billionaire wealth in the U.S. is up 78%.
- In 2006, big money committees spent $70 million. In 2022, 2,000 SuperPACs spent $2 billion.
- SuperPACs have spent $6 billion since being created, with the money helping both political parties.
He closed by charging us with overturning Citizens United and instituting public campaign financing.
In the chart above, the U.S. Census Bureau shows how the tax system punishes working people and rewards the wealthy. Between 2020 and 2021, the income ratio of the wealthiest 10% (i.e., in the 90th income percentile) to the poorest 10% dropped 6.7% before tax. Sounds like good news, eh? But after tax, the ratio rose more than 8%.
Why we need a Constitutional Amendment to affirmatively guarantee voting rights
UCLA Constitutional Law Professor Rich Hasen explained on the NY Times op-ed page:
"... in Bush v. Gore, to give a relatively recent example, the Supreme Court reiterated that the Constitution does not guarantee citizens the right to vote for president and confirmed that states may take back the power to appoint presidential electors directly in future elections."
The Warren court of 1953-69 was the only Supreme Court in history that was favorable to broadening voting rights. The lack of an affirmative right leads to attempts at voter suppression. In the current era, Republicans are trying to shape the electorate to dampen turnout. Also, "[a]n affirmative right to vote in the Constitution could de-escalate the voting wars and decrease the amount of election litigation by simultaneously protecting voter access and ensuring election integrity." An amendment should "guarantee not only the right to vote but also the right to have that vote fairly and accurately counted."
News
The Fulcrum: Alaska now has a new system to counter hyper-partisanship. The state has adopted non-partisan primaries and ranked choice run off voting for the four highest vote getters in those primaries. Nevada is in the process of possibly adopting a similar system.
The Hill: "A survey by the Brennan Center for Justice found that nearly one in three election officials have been harassed, abused or threatened because of their job; almost half of respondents expressed concern for the safety of other election officials and workers in future elections." Congress can pass funding and law to help protect election workers according to Democratic Representative Joe Morelle (NY), the ranking member of the House Administration Committee.
The Tennesseean: Election officials in Tennessee have announced the those convicted of a felony seeking to have their voting rights restored must first have their gun rights restored. Restoration advocates accused the state board of elections of moving the goal posts.
Associated Press: No Labels, which promises "freedom from anger and divisiveness," is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, but it is making progress in gaining ballot access in all 50 states for a possible presidential campaign. End Citizens United is a Democratic-leaning PAC that is suing No Labels arguing that they must file campaign finance reports and give up their (c)(3) status, which confers tax breaks and donor anonymity. The article states that Democratic-learning groups fear that a No Labels candidacy will hand the presidency to Donald Trump. No Labels helped found the "Problem Solvers Caucus" in the House of Representatives, which many observers consider a front for multinational corporate interests.
Maryland Matters: End Citizens United, a national PAC that raises campaign funds and donates to Democratic candidates has endorsed Angela Alsobrooks who is running against David Trone for the Senate seat being vacated by Ben Cardin. "Between the End Citizens United ... endorsement, and the endorsement earlier this week from one of the leading good government advocates in Congress, U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes (D-3rd), Alsobrooks may be building a degree of protection from her opponent’s suggestion that she might be politically compromised — and that only a self-funder can promote political reform." [The End Citizens United strategy is controversial -- Charlie Cooper.]
Maryland Matters: Members who left the general Assembly for positions in the Moore administration or in the private sector still have substantial amounts in their campaign funds. Melanie Griffith, who was powerful in the Maryland Senate, now leads the Maryland Hospital's Association, gave large contributions to many former colleagues and still has a healthy campaign chest, even though she's not running for an office.
GMOM and For the People -- Maryland teleconference
Meeting Monday, January 29, 2024, 7:30 pm
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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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