Durbin speaks about the urgency of passing FENA (not FEMA) - video

[clear eye]

http://www.americanprogressaction.org/events/2009/12/fairelections.html

Webcast of a discussion with Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson (D-Conn.) about why they sponsored the Fair Elections Now Act, and what they see as the road ahead in wake of the Citizens United decision. The act would give members of both houses of Congress the choice to forswear all corporate donations in exchange for a reasonable level of public financing, once they had gathered a qualifying # of under-$100 donations from individuals. The fund would also match the same type of donations above the number needed to qualify.

Durbin has been trying to get this off the ground since 2005, but in light of the upcoming ruling expected in the SCOTUS case "Citizens United" v. the FEC", which is expected to legalize must corporate campaign donations by ruling that they are protected political speech, his efforts are being supported by a consortium of public interest organizations:

• Brennan Center for Justice
• Common Cause
• Democracy Matters
• Public Campaign
• Public Citizen
• U.S. PIRG
• Center for American Progress

You can sign http://www.fairelectionsnow.org/">his online citizens' petition, but more importantly, please support the work of the groups fighting to re-empower the citizenry, and make a point of contacting your representatives in both houses for their support.

This, and a ban on e-voting and counting could go far to restore the power of the vote.