Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Revealed: RNC and DNC awash with corporate cash from donors seeking access

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/23/revealed-rnc-dnc-corporate-cash-donors-seeking-access?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Outlook

 

Fundraising materials show that both parties are hoping to lure $1m donations from corporations and wealthy individuals in exchange for access and advertising opportunities.

 

Marty Wulfe

Friday, December 20, 2019

Congress showers Christmas gifts on health care corps


"...pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, insurance companies and medical device manufacturers practically ran the table in Congress, winning hundreds of billions of dollars in tax breaks and other gifts through old-fashioned lobbying, re-exerting their political prowess. 'It's the 'no special interest left behind bill' of 2019,' [said one observer]."

Charlie Cooper

Sunday, December 15, 2019

GMOM and Wolf-PAC in the news over Article V strategy

https://thefulcrum.us/article-v

 

This article features GMOM volunteer Marty Wulfe.

 

Charlie Cooper

 

 

 

Maryland Online Transparency Act struck down

https://thefulcrum.us/maryland-political-advertising-law

 

“… a three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals says the law unconstitutionally singles out political expression for special scrutiny and promises a "chilling effect" on free speech. The unanimous ruling on Friday, upholding a federal trial judge's position, is the latest in a series of federal judicial decisions against efforts to regulate campaign financing.”

 

We supported this law to require disclosure of online political advertising. We need more details to see how broadly it was overturned by the courts.

 

Charlie Cooper

Get Money Out – Maryland (GMOM)

 

 

 

Friday, November 29, 2019

RE: PayPal

I believe in our new status we will not have to reveal the names of our donors, but we should have some policy about that considering what our cause is. I suggest we will reveal donors over a certain amount, say $100.

 

Marty

 

From: Charlie Cooper <charlie.coop47@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, November 29, 2019 1:11 PM
To: angad.gmom.hipops@blogger.com
Cc: 'Marty Wulfe' <mwulfe@yahoo.com>
Subject: PayPal

 

Angad, Not sure exactly when you’re getting to India, but wanted to let you know that I’ve established a PayPal account under the email getmoneyoutmaryland@gmail.com.

 

I’ll let you know how to login separately.

 

We are going to need to have the SECU bank account number to take the next step.

 

They can send us a swipe device so we can get credit cards in the field. I’m not 100% sure about the credit cards, though. For sure, we’ll be able to accept PayPal transfers into our account and pay bills by PayPal.

 

Charlie Cooper

H: 410-578-8291

M: 410-624-6095

Get Money Out – Maryland (GMOM)

 “We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can’t have both.” – Louis Brandeis

 

 

PayPal

Angad, Not sure exactly when you’re getting to India, but wanted to let you know that I’ve established a PayPal account under the email getmoneyoutmaryland@gmail.com.

 

I’ll let you know how to login separately.

 

We are going to need to have the SECU bank account number to take the next step.

 

They can send us a swipe device so we can get credit cards in the field. I’m not 100% sure about the credit cards, though. For sure, we’ll be able to accept PayPal transfers into our account and pay bills by PayPal.

 

Charlie Cooper

H: 410-578-8291

M: 410-624-6095

Get Money Out – Maryland (GMOM)

 “We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can’t have both.” – Louis Brandeis

 

 

Oct 2018 poll on money in politics

https://www.issueone.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/topline.Election-Omnibus.Issue-One.2018.11.08.pdf

 

Poll outlines strong support to reform money in politics.

 

Charlie Cooper

Harvard poll: younger voters see big money in politics as serious problem

Over 100 groups issue report on strengthening democracy in US

http://civilrightsdocs.info/pdf/voting/Vision-For-Democracy.pdf

 

Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and other groups recommend:

  1. Prevent barriers to voting;
  2. End felony disenfranchisement;
  3. Expand voter registration;
  4. Increase voter participation;
  5. Bolster election security;
  6. End gerrymandering and other structural reforms.

 

Charlie Cooper

H: 410-578-8291

M: 410-624-6095

Get Money Out – Maryland (GMOM)

 “We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can’t have both.” – Louis Brandeis

 

 

High court nixes Alaska campaign donation limits in complex decision

Brennan Center report outlines election vendor security steps

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Only Dem Senator to oppose net neutrality gets telecom money

Kamala Harris' "bundlers" have started giving to her rivals

Big PHARMA funnels millions to conservative group

Amazon paid no federal taxes on $11 billion profits

FedEx paid no federal income tax

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/17/business/how-fedex-cut-its-tax-bill-to-0.html?searchResultPosition=1

 

FedEx lobbied for corporate tax cuts and promised bigger investments. In the wake of Trump tax cut, NY Times finds: “If anything, the companies that received the biggest tax cuts increased their capital investment by less, on average, than companies that got smaller cuts.”

 

Charlie Cooper

H: 410-578-8291

M: 410-624-6095

Get Money Out – Maryland (GMOM)

 “We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can’t have both.” – Louis Brandeis

 

 

Friday, November 1, 2019

GOP Presidential challenger Weld signs promise for 28th Amendment

https://thefulcrum.us/campaign-finance/bill-weld-28th-amendment

 

American Promise Association has one Republican and several Democratic presidential candidates signed on to a Pledge to Amend.

 

Charlie Cooper

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Cases show foreign money in US politics

https://apnews.com/389f03e40e874bbe9d1687925e517d05

 

Foreign money funneled into Obama inaugural. The same man gave to Trump, Hilary Clinton, Lindsay Graham, Eliot Engel, and more.

 

Charlie Cooper

 

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Thursday, October 24, 2019

political spending at Trump properties tops $20 million

https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2019/10/trump-properties-poli-spending-passes-20m/?utm_source=OpenSecrets+Donor+List&utm_campaign=ca4cbb884a-DONOR+EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_10_24_19&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8ce7c3ba3d-ca4cbb884a-212208581

 

99% of this money has been spent since Trump announced his 2016 candidacy for the Presidency.

 

Charlie Cooper

H: 410-578-8291

M: 410-624-6095

Get Money Out – Maryland (GMOM)

 “We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can’t have both.” – Louis Brandeis

 

 

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Former Dem. Senator Heitkamp now shilling for fossil fuel industry

https://readsludge.com/2019/10/14/group-claiming-to-speak-for-rural-democrats-is-tied-to-fossil-fuel-lobbyists/

 

Using a 501(c)(4) “social welfare” organization to spread the message of the fossil fuel industry.

 

Charlie Cooper

“We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can’t have both.” – Louis Brandeis

 

 

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Congress mulls election security bills and aid to states

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/the-cybersecurity-202/2019/10/15/the-cybersecurity-202-lawmakers-head-to-ground-zero-for-election-security/5da50fe688e0fa3155a71140/?nid=menu_nav_accessibilityforscreenreader&outputType=accessibility

 

But it will be extremely tough to replace those machines without a significant infusion of cash from Congress — and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has been wary of spending more money on election security after Congress committed $380 million in 2018. McConnell recently relented and endorsed sending another $250 million to states but that's far short of the $600 million in a House-passed bill. And it's way less than the $2.2 billion over five years the Brennan Center says is needed to address the problem nationwide. “

 

Charlie Cooper

H: 410-578-8291

M: 410-624-6095

Get Money Out – Maryland (GMOM)

 “We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can’t have both.” – Louis Brandeis

 

 

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

50 top legal minds press for 28th Amendment

https://www.rawstory.com/2019/09/group-of-50-legal-scholars-call-for-28th-amendment-to-overturn-citizens-united-a-root-cause-of-dysfunction-in-our-political-system/

 

“As attorneys, law professors and former judges with a wide variety of political beliefs and affiliations, we are convinced that our nation’s current election spending framework is a root cause of dysfunction in our political system and requires fundamental reform.”

 

Charlie Cooper

H: 410-578-8291

M: 410-624-6095

Get Money Out – Maryland (GMOM)

 “We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can’t have both.” – Louis Brandeis

 

 

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Baltimore Sun endorses public campaign finance bill

https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/editorial/bs-ed-0917-public-financing-20190916-uhvwfs6sajde5aahw33hz7xiuu-story.html

 

Charlie Cooper

H: 410-578-8291

M: 410-624-6095

Get Money Out – Maryland (GMOM)

 “We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can’t have both.” – Louis Brandeis

 

 

Monday, August 19, 2019

Quick Favor?

Hey,

I just signed the petition "49 States and the District of Columbia: Repeal At-Will Employment Doctrine" and wanted to see if you could help by adding your name.

Our goal is to reach 1,000,000 signatures and we need more support. You can read more and sign the petition here:

http://chng.it/MbKb9rDVXq

Thanks!
Renaud

Thursday, August 1, 2019

MIchigan Republicans file suit to block voter-approved non-partisan redistricting commission

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2019/07/30/republicans-sue-block-michigan-redistricting-commission/1860829001/

 

The provisions regarding non-partisan make-up of the commission bear similarities to the provisions Gov. Hogan has championed – and that Get Money Out has supported – for Maryland.

 

Charlie Cooper

H: 410-578-8291

M: 410-624-6095

Get Money Out – Maryland (GMOM)

 “We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can’t have both.” – Louis Brandeis

 

 

Saturday, July 27, 2019

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Re: Panel Survey from Jamie Raskin

Add Jamie explained it to me years, it does incorporate RCV. 

Charlie 

On Tue, Jul 16, 2019, 4:44 PM 'K Stevens' via GMOM-volunteers <GMOM-volunteers@googlegroups.com> wrote:
Jamie Raskin included something like this notion as part of a bill that he introduced as a State Senator in 2016:


I consider this a horrible idea and don't see how it would better represent the residents of any state.  Unless proportional representation is somehow allowed, each multi-member district would very likely elect all Republicans or all Democrats.  It seems obvious to me that single-member congressional districts are more likely to be representative of state's residents by political party than multi-member ones.  Of course, gerrymandering by whatever party has the power is going to exist, but it would be pretty difficult for Maryland Democrats to totally eliminate Republican representation in the Congress if the single-member district system is retained.  If there are multi-member districts, it could be done.  But where Republicans have the power (and they do in most states), they could wipe out a lot of Democrats.

Ken



-----Original Message-----
From: 'Marty Wulfe' via GMOM-volunteers <GMOM-volunteers@googlegroups.com>
To: GMOM-volunteers <GMOM-volunteers@googlegroups.com>; angad.gmom.hipops <angad.gmom.hipops@blogger.com>
Sent: Tue, Jul 16, 2019 3:15 pm
Subject: Panel Survey from Jamie Raskin

I was just sent a survey from Rep. Raskin asking me about my attitudes about all the right issues: public campaign financing, a constitutional amendment including campaign finance reform and corporate personhood, and gerrymandering.
 
But then there was this one that I was totally unprepared for, related to Government Reform:
 
The idea of this proposal is one that is allowed by the Constitution. This proposal would make larger US House districts that would be represented by more than one Member of Congress. This would increase the likelihood Members of Congress would more accurately mirror the partisan mix of the population. Here is how it would work:
 
  • In a state with five or fewer Congressional districts, the state would still have the same number of House Members, but they would be elected by all of the state's voters and represent the whole state.
 
For example, for a state with five Congressional districts, on the ballot there would be at least five Republicans and five Democrats, as well as possible independent and third-party candidates. Five U.S. House Members would be elected by all voters in the state.

Research has been done on what the likely effect would be: election results would more closely mirror the partisan balance of the state. For example, Connecticut is a state in which all five House seats are currently held by Democrats and Oklahoma is one in which all five House seats are currently held by Republicans. The proposed system would likely result in 1-2 Republicans being elected in Connecticut and 1-2 Democrats in Oklahoma.
 
  • For states with more than five districts, the state would keep the same number of House Members, but the districts would be redesigned to be larger and have 3-5 Members each. The 3-5 House Members would be elected by all of the voters in these larger districts.
 
Have any of you heard of this before?  Any responses? This is completely new to me.
 
Marty
 
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Re: Panel Survey from Jamie Raskin

Jamie Raskin included something like this notion as part of a bill that he introduced as a State Senator in 2016:

http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2016RS/bills/sb/sb0762F.pdf

I consider this a horrible idea and don't see how it would better represent the residents of any state.  Unless proportional representation is somehow allowed, each multi-member district would very likely elect all Republicans or all Democrats.  It seems obvious to me that single-member congressional districts are more likely to be representative of state's residents by political party than multi-member ones.  Of course, gerrymandering by whatever party has the power is going to exist, but it would be pretty difficult for Maryland Democrats to totally eliminate Republican representation in the Congress if the single-member district system is retained.  If there are multi-member districts, it could be done.  But where Republicans have the power (and they do in most states), they could wipe out a lot of Democrats.

Ken

K Stevens
ksteve8@verizon.net


-----Original Message-----
From: 'Marty Wulfe' via GMOM-volunteers <GMOM-volunteers@googlegroups.com>
To: GMOM-volunteers <GMOM-volunteers@googlegroups.com>; angad.gmom.hipops <angad.gmom.hipops@blogger.com>
Sent: Tue, Jul 16, 2019 3:15 pm
Subject: Panel Survey from Jamie Raskin

I was just sent a survey from Rep. Raskin asking me about my attitudes about all the right issues: public campaign financing, a constitutional amendment including campaign finance reform and corporate personhood, and gerrymandering.
 
But then there was this one that I was totally unprepared for, related to Government Reform:
 
The idea of this proposal is one that is allowed by the Constitution. This proposal would make larger US House districts that would be represented by more than one Member of Congress. This would increase the likelihood Members of Congress would more accurately mirror the partisan mix of the population. Here is how it would work:
 
  • In a state with five or fewer Congressional districts, the state would still have the same number of House Members, but they would be elected by all of the state's voters and represent the whole state.
 
For example, for a state with five Congressional districts, on the ballot there would be at least five Republicans and five Democrats, as well as possible independent and third-party candidates. Five U.S. House Members would be elected by all voters in the state.

Research has been done on what the likely effect would be: election results would more closely mirror the partisan balance of the state. For example, Connecticut is a state in which all five House seats are currently held by Democrats and Oklahoma is one in which all five House seats are currently held by Republicans. The proposed system would likely result in 1-2 Republicans being elected in Connecticut and 1-2 Democrats in Oklahoma.
 
  • For states with more than five districts, the state would keep the same number of House Members, but the districts would be redesigned to be larger and have 3-5 Members each. The 3-5 House Members would be elected by all of the voters in these larger districts.
 
Have any of you heard of this before?  Any responses? This is completely new to me.
 
Marty
 
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Panel Survey from Jamie Raskin

I was just sent a survey from Rep. Raskin asking me about my attitudes about all the right issues: public campaign financing, a constitutional amendment including campaign finance reform and corporate personhood, and gerrymandering.

 

But then there was this one that I was totally unprepared for, related to Government Reform:

 

The idea of this proposal is one that is allowed by the Constitution. This proposal would make larger US House districts that would be represented by more than one Member of Congress. This would increase the likelihood Members of Congress would more accurately mirror the partisan mix of the population. Here is how it would work:

 

  • In a state with five or fewer Congressional districts, the state would still have the same number of House Members, but they would be elected by all of the state's voters and represent the whole state.

 

For example, for a state with five Congressional districts, on the ballot there would be at least five Republicans and five Democrats, as well as possible independent and third-party candidates. Five U.S. House Members would be elected by all voters in the state.

Research has been done on what the likely effect would be: election results would more closely mirror the partisan balance of the state. For example, Connecticut is a state in which all five House seats are currently held by Democrats and Oklahoma is one in which all five House seats are currently held by Republicans. The proposed system would likely result in 1-2 Republicans being elected in Connecticut and 1-2 Democrats in Oklahoma.

 

  • For states with more than five districts, the state would keep the same number of House Members, but the districts would be redesigned to be larger and have 3-5 Members each. The 3-5 House Members would be elected by all of the voters in these larger districts.

 

Have any of you heard of this before?  Any responses? This is completely new to me.

 

Marty

 

Monday, July 15, 2019

If the Supreme Court Won't Prevent Gerrymandering, Who Will?

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/13/opinion/sunday/partisan-gerrymandering.html

 

 

Charlie Cooper

Get Money Out – Maryland (GMOM)

 “We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can’t have both.” – Louis Brandeis

 

 

Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Census citizenship question still under debate

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/07/census-case-could-provoke-constitutional-crisis/593425/

 

Many conservatives want the citizenship question so they can increase Republican power in the House of Representatives and the state legislatures and so they can direct less money to states with Democratic majorities. After the Supreme Court struck the question from the census, some conservatives think they have found a new way to add the citizenship question to the census. This author says the Constitution gives control of the census to Congress in Article I – not to the President.

 

Charlie Cooper

“We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can’t have both.” – Louis Brandeis

 

 

Friday, July 5, 2019

Facebook dark money ads are favored by the right

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jul/05/facebook-ads-2020-dark-money-funding-republican-trump-weapon?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

 

Although Facebook publishes a database of who pays for political ads, the true source of the money does not have to be revealed.

 

Charlie Cooper. Credit to Sheila Ruth for find this one.

 

 

 

Saturday, June 22, 2019

A summary of where presidential candidates stand on election finance

Sen. leader McConnell get campaign cash from lobbyists for voting

https://readsludge.com/2019/06/10/as-he-blocks-election-security-bills-mcconnell-takes-checks-from-voting-machine-lobbyists/

 

As He Blocks Election Security Bills, McConnell Takes Checks from Voting Machine Lobbyists. These are the same voting machines that lack adequate protection against hacking.

 

Charlie Cooper

 

 

Biden fundraiser is lobbying to reduce restrictions on foreign influence in elections

https://readsludge.com/2019/06/19/a-lobbyist-raising-money-for-biden-is-fighting-measures-to-crack-down-on-foreign-election-influence/?link_id=5&can_id=e96967e6939a941dbdebb8356ad281a2&source=email-ceos-party-bosses-exploiting-federal-and-state-tax-breaks&email_referrer=email_567669&email_subject=ceos-party-bosses-exploiting-federal-and-state-tax-breaks

 

Ken Jarin co-hosted Biden’s first big fundraiser. He is a paid lobbyist leading efforts to oppose regulation of foreign influence in U. S. elections.

 

Charlie Cooper

 “We may have democracy, or we may have wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can’t have both.” – Louis Brandeis