This week, November 12 - 16, is Fair Elections Now Week. Activists around the country will be holding events to spotlight the need for election reforms, voluntary public financing, and passage of the bipartisan Fair Elections Now Act. S.1285.
Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) are the lead co-sponsors in the US Senate. Senator Durbin had this to say about his committment to Fair Elections:
"As I've said many times before, changing the way we finance political campaigns in this country is one of the most important challenges I've ever undertaken. The Fair Elections Now Act, which I introduced with bipartisan support, is the way I think we should finance Congressional elections, and I truly believe it is one of the most important bills I've ever introduced.
Dozens of national organizations, most of them of importance to Democrats, are supporting the Fair Elections Now Act. And for good reason -- fair elections are an issue of basic equality. The right to be heard, to participate, to be represented, and even to run for office.
One advocacy group, Just $6.org, has prepared an excellent analysis of the differences between today's big money system and the impact of voluntary public financing (pdf warning).
Now brace yourselves, lovers of equality and justice. In the Georgia Senate Race, that champion of the average Georgian (Not!), Saxby Shameless, has amassed his war chest this election cycle with 98% -- yup, 98% -- coming from big money. Of the Shameless' $2,794,103 raised this cycle, $986,636 came from PACs, $1,718,234 came from 2051 individuals with an average contribution of $837.75, $25,000 came from transfers from authorized committees, leaving a whopping, staggering, equality-ensuring $63,440 from other sources in amounts less than $200. That's 2% of his total $2.79 million.
And, boy do most Democrats just love to emulate the big money Republicans out of fear they'll be left behind. Vernon Jones - 100% big money, plus $6k from PACs with an average $1,186 contribution; Dale Cardwell - 100% big money and an average $850 contribution; and Randy Knight - well, an average $1,499 contribution, plus $15k in transfers, plus $56k in loans (you figure it out).
Only one prospective candidate in the Georgia Senate Race, in fact in the nation, has the cajones to take a hard stand for Clean Elections, equality for the average Georgia voter, and the Fair Elections Now Act. I don't know how much Josh Lanier has raised over the past four weeks -- his Act Blue page lists a mere $1,605 coming from 35 small donors averaging $45.85 -- but I do know that he is dead serious about Clean Elections, that he's polling within the margin of error on "For" votes of every other Dem candidate, and his Patriots for Change volunteer group is swelling throughout the state. And national polling has consistently shown overwhelming public support for Clean Elections and candidates who support them. Even with Republicans. Even in the South.
(full disclosure: I'm a Patriot for Change and a volunteer for FOJL)
Now, just how satisfying, appropriate and hopeful for Georgia would it be to retire Saxby Shameless through a clean campaign waged by a war veteran and man of principle, backed by thousands of average Georgians? It would make history and almost assure passage of the Fair Elections Now Act in the next Congress.
If basic equality is important to you, here's are some action items you can take during Fair Elections Now Week:
1. Join Josh Lanier's Patriots for Change grassroots group. Walk the walk and make a small donation while you're there.
2. Compose a Letter to the Editor in support of Fair Elections Now Week and noting that a Georgia candidate is leading by example. Here's a good tool for submitting it online
3. Learn more about Clean Campaigns and the Fair Elections Now Act. Common Cause and Just $6 Dollars have good summaries.
4. Click here to sign up for Fair Elections Action Week updates, read news stories and blog posts from around the country, and find out about events happening in your area.
This is the week to take a stand.
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