National Call to Action: Reform Campaign Financing: Pass H1/S1! (CTA#1070 February 23, 2021)

 ***NATIONAL CALL TO ACTION***

Reform Campaign Financing!

Pass H1/S1!

A healthy democracy needs leaders who work FOR THE PEOPLE, not just the wealthy few. Strong, well-enforced election laws will protect us against the age-old problem of buying access to power. Our election laws have grown weak and ineffective: guardrails that discourage — rather than encourage influence peddling — are gone, oversight crippled, with no meaningful public financing to act as a counterweight.

HR1/S1 (For The People Act) would:

  • Tighten rules against coordination between candidates and SuperPACs by, for example, no longer allowing a former staff person to run a SuperPAC ad and prohibiting candidates from appearing in SuperPAC ads.

  • Reform the Federal Election Commission, which is so broken that it hasn’t met for nearly three years because it can’t muster a quorum.

  • Overhaul public financing for elections and fund campaigns with a small increase in penalties for corporations that break the law and super-wealthy people convicted of dodging federal taxes.

The Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision increased  the amount of money in politics to obscene levels. There are steps, however, that Congress can take to limit the decision’s impact. Urge your Members of Congress to pass the For The People Act — H1/S1.

Call your Members of Congress!

Demand Passage of the For the People Act!

**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR U.S. SENATORS**

SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR SENATORS MERKLEY AND WYDEN:

“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. 

I am calling to express my full support for S1. Today I am focusing on the sections of S1 that will limit the impact of SuperPACs, strengthen the FEC, and revive the public spending option. I support all of these measures. Finally, I support ending or modifying the filibuster in order to pass this bill. Please thank the Senator for his leadership on this issue.

Thank you.”

SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY

Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/

 

SENATOR RON WYDEN

Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/

 

**ACTION TWO: CALL EXTREMIST CLIFF BENTZ**

SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR BENTZ:

“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code]. 

I am calling to express my full support for HR1. Today I am focusing on the sections HR1 that will limit the impact of SuperPACs, strengthen the FEC, and revive the public spending option. I support all of these measures. Please tell Cliff Bentz that I demand he vote yes to pass this bipartisan bill.

Cliff Bentz WILL BE held accountable to all of his constituents, not just those who voted for him.

Thank you.”

ORD2 Extremist Cliff Bentz

Medford: 541-776-4646
DC : 202-225-6730
Twitter: @cliffbentz

Email: Apparently, Bentz refuses direct emails.

 

 

**ACTION THREE: BE AN ACTIVIST**

February 27, this Saturday: Please consider joining Oregon Indivisible this weekend for their first voter outreach event partnering with Common Cause to connect voters in key states with their Members of Congress in support of the For The People Act. This phonebank event will be this Saturday, 12-2 pm. https://www.indivisibleor.org/events/phonbank-hr-1-02-20-21.

February 24, 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Ongoing every Monday, Wednesday and Friday
#MyORHealth  Support is available for Oregon’s “helpers”

Lines for Life has created a Virtual Wellness Room to offer support to helpers, mental health professionals, first responders, social workers and anyone considered an essential worker during the COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon. Each check-in call will have a facilitator to guide the conversation.

“We at Lines for Life want to thank you for all the work you do to keep our communities safe,” the organization said. “We are offering a place for helpers to exchange stories of hope and areas of need. We especially want to hear what things are coming up for you personally and explore how we can cheer one another on to continue the good work you are already doing. We ultimately want to create space to breathe out stress and breathe in hope.”

The meetings are held using Zoom conference calls from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at this link: https://zoom.us/j/4848426773.  Please share this invite with anyone in your network of Oregon helpers.

**Visit the ORD2 Indivisible Event Calendar on a regular basis to keep updated on local activities. Participate with us as often as you can. We also encourage you to submit events to be added to the ORD2 Indivisible Event Calendar and help us keep current with our event postings. https://ord2indivisible.org/submit-your-event/