41 business leaders send letter to Congress: AGAINST SC decision, pro-Fair Elections Now Act

[highplainsdem]

The Common Cause press release about this:

http://www.commoncause.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=4773613&ct=7868979

That page at FairElectionsNow.org

http://www.fairelectionsnow.org/businessleaders

which links to PDF files with the letters and signatories.


The Common Cause press release:

January 22, 2010

Business Leaders Speak Out on Citizens United
41 Industry Leaders tell Congress to Pass Fair Elections


Forty-one business leaders from a diverse cross-section of industries sent a letter to Congressional leadership in response to the Roberts’ Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC. According to the distinguished group, the Fair Elections Now Act is the most comprehensive response to yesterday’s terrible decision.

“Yesterday's decision by the Supreme Court makes it imperative that Congress pass the Fair Elections Now Act,” said Alan Hassenfeld, chairman of Hasbro. “It is long past the time to stop requiring that our elected officials moonlight as telemarketers raising money for their re-election campaigns rather then devoting all their time to solving the problems before this nation. Is there a difference between campaign contributions and bribery?"

From the letter:

With additional money flowing into the system due to the Court’s decision, the fundraising pressure on members of Congress will only increase.

“We believe Congress must address both the Citizens United decision and the problems of the current campaign finance system by passing the Fair Elections Now Act (S. 752 and H.R. 1826). This measure would enact a voluntary alternative system for financing federal elections, giving candidates the option to run for office on a mixture of small contributions and limited public funds.”

Sponsored by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.), the Fair Elections Now Act would allow candidates to spend most of their time talking to voters and working on our nation’s challenges and less time dialing for dollars. The House legislation currently has the broad bipartisan and cross-caucus support of 127 members.

The letter was sent to both Democratic and Republican leadership in the House and Senate on January 22, 2010. Signatories include Edgar Bronfman, former president and CEO of Seagram’s; Arnold Hiatt, former CEO of Stride Rite; Gordon Segal, chairman of Crate & Barrel; and William Ruckleshaus, strategic director of Madrona Venture Group and EPA director in the Nixon administration*.

Please visit http://www.fairelectionsnow.org/businessleaders to view the full letter and signatories.

*Corporation affiliations used for identification purposes

[begin_within]

1. Maybe this is the catalyst that will finally result in significant election reform.

[highplainsdem]

2. Hope so. If the insanity of the SCOTUS ruling doesn't get people's attention...

[begin_within]

4. Unfortunately it's rather arcane stuff,

and is likely to fly over the heads of millions of Americans. It may have gotten a 15-second mention on the evening news today, but that may be the only time millions of people ever hear about it. So many of the big changes are so arcane and understandable mainly by people most directly affected. I bet most Americans couldn't explain NAFTA or the telecommunications deregulation, or even why there is a war in Iraq. So this ruling is just another one of those things that will be little understood by most people. I think coverage of it on mainstream media news shows has been purposely kept to a bare minimum.

[Bitwit1234]

3. I got the end of a news clip and the commentator

said this would not take effect til December. I don't know why but he just stated that.

[NYC_SKP]

5. K & R nt

[NYC_SKP]

6. Please patronize Playboy, Ben and Jerrys, Crate and Barrel, ING, and these other companies:

BUSINESS LEADERS CALLING FOR AN END TO THE MONEY CHASE

Greycroft

Stride Rite Inc.

Crate & Barrel

Hasbro, Inc.

Universal Remote Control, Inc.

Brita Products Company

Madrona Venture Group

Sunnydale Farms

Playboy Enterprises

GrainPro Inc.

Ben & Jerry's

Quaker Chemical Corporation

Schooner Capital

AkPharma Inc.

Swig, Weiler & Arnow Management Co.

Shout! Factory

ING Group

Center Development Corporation

The RREEF Funds

Isaacson Miller

Propel Accelerator

Gold Village Entertainment, Inc.

Fischer Francis Trees & Watts, Inc

Sequel Energy Corporation, Inc.

Tanamar, Inc.

Lane Powell PC

Pure Fishing

Principal Financial Group

Sigma Partners

Vance Brown Builders

Metaweb

U.S. Corrugated Inc.

Robert Brooke Zevin Associates, Inc.

South Carolina Elastic Company

Rosebud Agency

Midnite Enterprises LLC

Capital Group Companies

Workman Publishing Company

SC & M Investment Management Corp.

Wilmerhale

:patriot:

[highplainsdem]

7. +1

[hileeopnyn8d]

13. I didn't see

Men's Warehouse on your list and I'm positive I saw their name on the petition.

[Vidar]

8. Recommended. It's good to know there are some decent ones out there.

[Douglas Carpenter]

9. kick and recommend!!! kick and recommend!!!!

[Orangepeel]

10. Um...I hate to be Debbie Downer, but this won't stop corporate advertising

unless we get a new SCOTUS.

Theoretically, it could end up with a non corporate candidate being limited to the small contributions and limited public funds and the corporate candidate being promoted with a billion dollars worth of ads paid for by oil companies.

I support public financing, but it won't solve the Citizens United problem. Congress needs to seriously strengthen disclosure and disclaimer rules.

[NYC_SKP]

11. kick

[NYC_SKP]

12. kick