Public Citizen | Action Items

Help Hold Congress Accountable at the Conventions

Protect Whistleblowers Efforts are already underway to ensure that big money doesn’t win undo influence over Congress. The Fair Elections Now Act would create a voluntary public financing system for Congressional races so candidates don’t have to rely on big donors. Candidates are signing the Voters First Pledge.

But when money can buy corporations and other big donors exclusive access to our elected officials, ordinary voters get left out of the conversation. Until the loophole that allows unlimited contributions to convention host committees is closed, elected officials attending the conventions must commit to honoring existing ethics laws and stay away from corporate sponsored parties and events.

With enough pressure from citizens, we can make sure that big money isn’t the only voice our elected officials hear at the conventions this summer.

Tell Congress to put voters first! Urge your members of Congress to stay away from big money at the conventions and honor our campaign finance and ethics laws.

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April 17, 2014

Subject:

I am writing to express my concern about the upcoming DNC/GOP Convention in the Twin Cities/Denver. The political parties are using the national party conventions to secure millions of dollars in soft-money contributions, funneling unlimited contributions from big donors through the convention host committees. In return for these donations, host committees offer corporations and other big donors exclusive access to elected officials at the conventions. Access to advertising opportunities and influential convention attendees increases with higher contributions. As an added bonus for donors, corporate donations to the host committee are tax deductible, meaning that, ultimately, it is taxpayers who subsidize corporate privilege at the conventions. This process ensures that big money will have its voice heard at the conventions, while ordinary voters fall by the wayside. I am discouraged that Congress has not yet closed this loophole that puts big money ahead of voters. I urge you to enact legislation that closes the convention soft-money loophole. I also urge you to put voters first at the convention this summer, and obey all existing lobbying and ethics laws by refusing to attend corporate-sponsored parties and events. Thank you for hearing my concerns. I look forward to your reply.
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