Thank you for watching Mr. Schneider Goes to Washington and your interest in fixing America’s campaign financing and lobbying system. Let's go APE!
Jonathan Neil Schneider
FOUR WAYS to get involved
ONE: Contribute
These amazing partner organizations work tirelessly to change the way Washington does business.
Common Cause: Common Cause is a nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy organization with nearly 400,000 members and supporters and 36 state organizations, working for open, honest and accountable government and greater citizen participation in our democracy.
Democracy Matters: Democracy Matters is a youth-driven, non-profit, non-partisan organization that works with and trains young people how to be effective grassroots organizers, focusing on the issue of money in politics and other pro-democracy reforms.
Fair Elections Now: The Fair Elections Now coalition is dedicated to winning full public financing of elections for U.S. Congress. The coalition represents Americans from all walks of life committed to ending the undue influence of private money on our elections.
MapLight.org: MAPLight.org illuminates the connection between money and politics. We bring together campaign contributions and how legislators vote. We make money/vote connections transparent, to help citizens hold their legislators accountable.
Public Campaign: Public Campaign is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to sweeping reform that aims to dramatically reduce the role of big special interest money in American politics.
Public Citizen: Public Citizen is a national, nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that fights for social and economic justice and openness and democratic accountability in government.
U.S. Pirg: U.S. PIRG, the federation of state Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs), takes on powerful interests on behalf of the American public, working to protect public health, encourage a fair, sustainable economy, and foster responsive, democratic government.)
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TWO: VOTE
Voting is the most basic obligations in a democracy. In 2006, only 40.1% of voters actually voted. We can do a lot better that that. If you are not registered, Rock the Vote makes it quick and easy. Just click on the button to the right and fill out the form.
THREE: SPEAK OUT
Perhaps the most inspiring thing I learned in making this film was that, if we speak up loud enough, we can effect change. Currently there are two key pieces of legislation before Congress. Here is a great way to tell your representative how you feel.
Fair Elections Now Act
The problem of money and its influence in elections is fundamental and must be addressed with a fundamental solution: the public funding of federal elections – also called Fair Elections.
In a Fair Elections system, candidates establish their credibility by collecting a number of small contributions, such as $5, from supporters. A set number of these donations make them eligible for public funds, if the candidate agrees to accept no additional private money and abide by strict spending limits. The bottom line of Fair Elections: large special interest contributions are removed from elections altogether.
Assistant Senate Majority Leader Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) and Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) have introduced the bipartisan Fair Elections Now Act. The bill is gaining support in the Senate and we anticipate the introduction of the companion bill in the House by Rep. John Larson (D-CT) soon.
It is critical that Congress hears from you NOW.Click here to make your voice heard.
Senate Disclosure
Right now, U.S. senators do not have to file campaign disclosure information electronically. There are already laws in place requiring candidates for President and for the U.S. House of Representatives to file electronically—so why should U.S. senators have different rules?
This self-serving exemption means that it can take months for Senate records to be available for the public to see. Contributions made after July 1 this year, for example, may not be available until after Election Day, depriving citizens of key information about who is funding lawmakers' campaigns.
Although S. 223 has no public opposition, a single senator, John Ensign (R-NV), has held up the bill by insisting on a vote on his controversial, unrelated amendment to force charities, religious organizations and civic nonprofit organizations to disclose all of their $5,000+ donors when they file ethics complaints against sitting Senators.
It’s time to reject all distractions and focus on making the Senate accountable. Tell the Senate it’s time to get out of the dark ages and file campaign disclosure information electronically. Send a letter today urging your senator to reject the Ensign amendment and vote Yes on S. 223!
FOUR: GET INVOLVED
While voting is a great start, the truth be told, it is the most basic obligation in a democracy. Real change needs real action. If you are a student and you want to voice to voice to be heard, we’ve got you covered.
Join Democracy Matters. With campus- based chapters across the country it’s easy. Click here to see if there is one on your campus.
If there isn’t a chapter at your campus start one. You can apply here to be a paid on-campus coordinator for Democracy Matters.
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