Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) has introduced a package of five bills collectively known as the Save Our Democracy package designed to reverse the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC. Alan Grayson Introduces Bills To Fight Corporate Money In Politics
Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) introduced five bills on Wednesday to choke off the expected flood of corporate cash.
"We are facing a potential threat to our democracy," Grayson said in an interview with HuffPost. "Unlimited corporate spending on campaigns means the government is up for sale and that the law itself will be bought and sold. It would be political bribery on the largest scale imaginable."
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Grayson introduced a handful of bills on Wednesday — the Business Should Mind Its Own Business Act, the Corporate Propaganda Sunshine Act, the End Political Kickbacks Act, and two other measures.
The Business Should Mind Its Own Business Act would impose a 500 percent excise tax on corporate contributions to political committees and on corporate expenditures on political advocacy campaigns. The Corporate Propaganda Sunshine Act would require public companies to report what they spend to influence public opinion on any matter other than the promotion of their goods and services. The End Political Kickbacks Act would restrict political contributions by government contractors.
The other measures would apply antitrust regulations to political committees and bar corporations from securities exchanges unless the corporation is certified in compliance with election law.
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Grayson added that he wanted to send the message that people are paying attention to the Supreme Court.
"This issue transcends the usual political arguments. I don't think the teabaggers would be very happy if our government was bought and paid for by a huge national corporation," he said.
Rep. Grayson's statement on today's Supreme Court decision GRAYSON CONDEMNS COURT RULING:
(Washington, DC) – In a 5-to-4 decision today, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that corporations have the "right" to spend an unlimited amount of money to influence and manipulate federal elections. The decision overturns more than a century of law and precedent. Rep. Alan Grayson (FL-8) immediately condemned the decision. "This is the worst Supreme Court decision since the Dred Scott case," Grayson said. "It leads us all down the road to serfdom."
The court decision completely ignores the likelihood that corporations will spend money to elect officials who will do their bidding, and punish those who won't. It allows unlimited election spending by all corporations, even foreign ones. "The Supreme Court has decided to protect the rights of GE, Volkswagen, Lukoil and Aramco, at the expense of our right to good government," Grayson added.
Congressman Grayson was in the courtroom when the U.S. Supreme Court announced its decision. Grayson circulated a petition yesterday, saying: "Unlimited corporate spending on campaigns means the government is up for sale, and that the law itself will be bought and sold." Within hours, more than 10,000 people had signed the petition. Rep. Grayson delivered those petitions to the Court this morning.
Rep. Grayson also has introduced five bills, the Save Our Democracy package, in anticipation of the Supreme Court's ruling. When he introduced the bills, Grayson said, "if this goes unchallenged, then you can kiss your country goodbye."
Today, Rep. Grayson called for immediate action on his Save Our Democracy bills. "If we do nothing, then before long, there won't be Senators from Oklahoma or Virginia, there will be Senators from Citibank and Walmart. Maybe they will wear insignias on their $500 suits, like NASCAR drivers do."
Grayson urges people to contact their Senators and Representatives, and urge support for the Save Our Democracy bills.
Former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura previously proposed the NASCAR racing suit for politicians, an idea whose time has come. jesse ventura: dems and repubs should wear nascar racing suits so we can see who owns them!
You can sign Rep. Grayson's petition at Save Democracy:
The Supreme Court stabbed Democracy this morning. I was there; I saw it happen. I brought our petition with me — your signatures — and presented them to the Court. Now it's time to act.
We have filed six bills to reverse this assault, the "Save Our Democracy" package. Sign this petition today, and show your support for saving our democracy. Together, we will move these bills forward and prevent the sale of our government to the highest bidder.
PETITION TEXTI support the "Save Our Democracy" Package:
We cannot have a government that is bought and paid for by huge multinational corporations. We need a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.