What Democracy Matters is About

1. Democracy Matters works to deepen democracy by getting private money out of politics and people back in.

2. What Democracy Matters is About • Democracy Matters is a non-partisan organization. • Goal: Get Money out of Politics • Belief – People with money buy influence in our Government through campaign contributions and everyone suffers because of it.

3. History • Founded by NBA player Adonal Foyle. • Over 60 chapters at campuses all over the United States. • Members are mostly College Students but High School are becoming involved recently.

4. The Problem: Money in Politics • It takes Money to run a Campaign. • Hire Staff • Print Materials • Run Ads on TV and Radio • Coordinate Volunteers • 95% of Americans can’t afford to contribute or don’t care too. • Rich people and large Corporations can afford too contribute.

5. The Truth About the System • Since the Wealthy contribute they expect something in return. • Politicians are forced to address the needs of their contributors because they need the money to get re-elected. • If they do not address their contributors needs the contributors will give their money to someone who will. • The system makes money just as important as the vote.

6. Politicians ignore the needs of 95% of Americans because they don’t contribute. Laws are passed that hurt the majority of Americans but help the rich get richer. Because the laws they pass are unfair it leads Americans to distrust the government. “Special interests have a stranglehold on Sacramento. Here’s how it works: Money comes in, favors go out. The people lose.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger “I get donations from business and individuals, absolutely. They’re powerful interests who control things.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger “There are two things that are important in politics. The first is money and I can’t remember what the second is.” – Senator Mark Hanna As a Result……… “Money is not the root of all evil in politics. In fact, money is the lifeblood of politics.” – House Majority Leader Tom DeLay

7. What Contributors Gave & Got • Rich People: • Gave: $1.8 Billion from 1999-2002. • Got: $1.35 Trillion tax cut over 10 years. • Credit Card Companies: • Gave: $140.2 Million from 1989-2004 • Got: Legislation that allows them to collect Child Support from people who can’t pay. • Defeated legislation that would have restricted Marketing of credit cards to teens and people with poor credit.

8. What Contributors Gave & Got • Auto Manufacturers: • Gave: $90 Million since 1989 • Got: Weak fuel economy standards and huge profits on SUVs due to a loophole that exempts them from half the fuel efficiency standards. • Pharmaceutical Industry: • Gave: $108.4 Million since 1989 • Got: Legislation forcing Americans to pay the highest prices in the Industrialized world for Prescription Drugs.

9. Why it matters to YOU!!Student Loans • The 1993 budget deal included a provision that would have cut interest rates on Student Loans from 8.25% to 7.1%. • The Banking and Lending Industry claimed that rate would not allow them to make a profit. (Even though people can get mortgage for a house at lower rates) • So the Banking and Lending Industry gave $5 Million in campaign contributions to Congress last year and now the rate can go as high as 9.80%. (In 1995-96 Congress received $15 Million in contributions from the Banking Industry.)

10. Why it matters to YOU!!College Students • According to the Higher Education Project, In the 1970’s a Pell grant covered 84% of tuition at a four-year college. Today it covers less than half of that and declining. • The Wall Street Journal Online reported that College costs prohibit 43% of qualified middle-income students from attending a four-year school. • Senator Edward Kennedy reported that College Tuition at public colleges increased by 14% last year. More than 100,000 students are in danger of dropping out of school due to increased tuition costs.

11. Why it matters to YOUCollege Students • Printing and Publishing Industry: • Gave: Over $77 Million since 1990 • Got: Selling over priced text books • Ability to make minor changes to a book and sell it at the new book rate • Influenced University’s to sell new textbooks instead of old versions.

12. Why Corruption isn’t a surprise • The Harvard Institute of Politics did a study that shows 64% of 18-24 year olds do not trust the Federal Government to do the right thing. • Another study done by Harvard shows that 60% of young people are civically involved but only 16% are involved in political groups. • The discrepancy is because all young people know the system is corrupt and that participation would make very little difference. • Money in Politics is why we think the government is corrupt.

13. The Solution: Clean Elections • Clean Elections – the idea that a candidate who is running for office only receives campaign funding from the public. Clean Elections is also known as Clean Money. • Candidates receive only money from the public, no other type of contributions are made to a campaign.

14. How it Works • Candidates must gather a certain number of signatures and $5 contributions from the public to run for office. • Once they have met the requirements for running Clean they must agree to not raise or spend private money for their campaign. • The Candidate then receives funds from the Clean Elections, Clean Money fund to run their campaign. • THAT’S IT!!!!!!

15. Clean Elections • Will receive funds for both the Primary and General Election. • Candidates have the choice to run Clean or not too. • If a Clean Election candidate is outspent by a privately financed opponent they are entitled to funds that make the spending equal.

16. Where does the money come from? • The money to fund Clean Elections is already there!! • Clean Elections can be funded by Tax $$$ that you already pay. • With the Check-Off system you can divert where you want your tax dollars to go. • You are not paying more you are just telling the government where you want your tax dollars to go.

17. Benefits to Clean Elections • Anyone can run for office. All it takes is a few signatures and $5 donations. • Since all the money comes from the public the Politician can address the needs of the public because they are the contributors. • Elected officials will be able to concentrate on getting helpful legislation passed and won’t have to worry raising money to re-elected.

18. Clean Elections in Action • Maine and Arizona have the strongest laws supporting Clean Elections but laws are either in legislation or on the agenda in at least 35 other States. • In Maine ¾ of their Senate and ½ of their House are Clean Election candidates. • In Arizona since Clean Elections has become law they have seen an 23% increase in voter turnout since 1998.

19. Clean Elections in Action Hannah Pingree • Maine House of Representatives • Ran when she was 25 years old. • She is in her 2nd Term in office. • At 28 years old she is still the youngest Politician in the Maine House. • Runs on a Clean Election system and has had convincing victories in each Election.

20. How You can Help • Lobbyist Disclosure Law Petition • Pennsylvania is on the only State in the nation without a Lobbyist Disclosure Law. • Getting the Lobbyist Disclosure Bill passed is the first step to start to implement a Clean Election system in Pennsylvania.

21. Here at Bloomsburg • Our Chapter is by far the Best Chapter in Pennsylvania. • Meetings are held just about every Thursday at 6pm in 113 Old Science. • Meeting Times are listed on the Today page to the right under Events. • Our Website http://orgs.bloomu.edu/budm

22. Topics Each group will explain to you how their area is affected by money in politics • Joe – Environment • Erin - Civil Rights • Ashley – Consumers and Workers • Jess – Women’s Rights/Issues

23. Works Cited • Is That a Politician in your Pocket? – Micah Sifry and Nancy Watzman • www.democracymatters.org • www.publicampaign.com • www.opensecrets.org • www.commoncause.org • www.followthemoney.org