Take Action: Support The Fair Elections Now Act

Support The Fair Elections Now Act

I support this effort at Common Cause. I would also encourage us to all begin lobbying hard for a Election Protection Liaison/Special Adviser to the President as well. There were a number of election anomalies beyond the usual problems with voter rolls/purges and election machinery. They need to be examined and the whole system reformed from top to bottom.

-Kyle Hence

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Wed, 12 Nov 2008 08:26:50
Common Cause
Press Release/Action Alert

President-elect Barack Obama has issued a challenge: he wants to hear from everyday Americans like you and me about what we think the priorities for the country should be.

This is a chance to send a message to the new Administration that it's time to shake up how public policy is made. *Out with the special interests*, the lobbyists and the big-money PACs. *In with the public interest*, the needs of average citizens and leaders who take the job of governing for the people seriously. And the first step should be the *Fair Elections Now Act*.

*Go to change.gov and tell President-elect Obama and his transition team to make Fair Elections a top priority!* http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?a=hlKTK8PPJcIYLrK&s=aeIDKTMtF9LOISPyB&m=ktJWKbPPIeI0E To maximize impact, please use the words "Fair Elections Now Act" in the first sentence or two of your message.

The Fair Elections Now Act would change the way America pays for elections, and who Washington listens to when setting the course for the nation. It would *put an end to pay-to-play politics*, so that our leaders can spend more time talking with voters, and less time fundraising from private interests.

If we want to get serious about real change on the economy, health care, climate change, and more, we have to get serious about ending the influence of powerful special interests. That's what the Fair Elections Now Act would do.

*Please go to change.gov and share your vision* for a government that is responsive to the needs of the people, not the demands of the special interests. To help make sure that we get the maximum impact, put the words "Fair Elections Now Act" in your first one or two sentences.

Here are some ideas to help you draft the rest of your message:

*** Write about your ideas for a stronger country, and the dangers posed by allowing a handful of special interests to dictate our nation's future. For example, if you're concerned about the economy, you might point out how the lending industry fought off efforts at regulation that could have helped consumers.*
*** Mention that empowering small donors should be the rule for campaigns, not the exception, and that the Fair Elections system makes that happen.
*** Ask that the Fair Elections Now Act be one of the first bills considered in 2009 -- because without this crucial reform, it will be difficult to make change on the many other issues that Congress must tackle.
*** Tell the Obama team that you will be following this issue closely and working to make Fair Elections a reality.

Thanks for taking the time to send your message to President-elect Obama. We'd love to hear your thoughts too – so please send a copy of your message to us at CauseNet@commoncause.org or share it with the world at CommonBlog.org .

Sincerely,

Arn Pearson and the rest of the team at Common Cause

*See our report, "Ask Yourself Why Congress Didn't See the Financial Crisis Coming" , for more info on this issue.

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