We’re about to find out in our first presidential election year since Citizens United. And because the limitless spending has been protected by the Supreme Court, the only way we can stop it is by amending the Constitution to reverse Citizens United and get big money out of politics for good.

Passing an amendment isn’t easy—we need to get overwhelming support at both the state and federal levels. But we have a powerful opportunity right now, in an election year, to flex our political muscle as MoveOn members. We can use the election to help convince politicians up and down the ballot to get on board if they want to earn our votes.

So we’re starting today by launching a new petition asking every state legislator, governor, and member of Congress who hasn’t yet declared their support for a constitutional amendment to undo Citizens United and permanently get big money out of politics.

Will you add your name?

Yes, I want my state and federal lawmakers to take a stand.

The plan is to deliver the petitions to state capitols and governors’ mansions in all 50 states and to the local offices of every member of Congress who hasn’t yet joined the call for an amendment.

And we aren’t, by any means, starting from scratch. MoveOn members and our allies have been working hard ever since Citizens United to build a movement for an amendment—and there’s already a lot of grassroots momentum.

President Obama is on board, along with more than 25 U.S. senators, at least 80 members of the U.S. House, and hundreds of state-level lawmakers.¹

It’s an impressive start, and this year, we have the opportunity to help massively increase those numbers. Polling shows that Americans are fed up with the 1% flooding our political system with cash and getting get lax regulation, rollbacks of workers’ rights, huge bailouts, and tax giveaways in return.²

Nearly all of the economic impacts that the 99% movement has mobilized around are tied to the overwhelming influence of big money in our democracy. So once we know who’s with us, we’re going make the issue personal, confront politicians who won’t take a stand with stories of the real-world consequences of a system run by corporations and the 1%, and demand that every last one of them chooses a side.

When President Obama announced his support for marriage equality last week, we all saw how powerful it can be when our political leaders stand behind an idea that—just a short time ago—seemed “unrealistic” or “politically impossible.”

It’s time, again, to change what’s “politically possible” in America.

Will you sign the petition and ask every one of your state and federal lawmakers who isn’t on board yet to declare their support for a constitutional amendment to reverse Citizens United and get big money out of our democracy?

Click here to sign: http://pol.moveon.org/amend/?id=41692-8568606-Cs6ZNkx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Robin, Elena, Victoria, Emily, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. “Endorsing Public Officials” list, United for the People, accessed May 17, 2012
http://www.united4thepeople.org/endorsers.html

2. “Survey: Money in Politics Can Drive Voters to Polls,” National Journal, May 9, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=275603&id=41692-8568606-Cs6ZNkx&t=5

Want to support our work? We’re entirely funded by our 7 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

MarketWatch.com
May 10, 2012
By MarketWatch

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — If the U.S. economy is hurting so badly, why are Americans so willing to buy imported goods?

The Commerce Department came out with its latest trade numbers on Thursday, showing that both imports and exports grew at a rapid pace in March. Read our full news coverage of the increase in the trade deficit.

The trade deficit widened to $51.8 billion, a very negative number that’s a testimony to both the strengths and weaknesses of the American economy.    [FULL  STORY]

Despite the glamorous facade, labor controversies persist behind the closed doors of the American fashion industry. ABC News reports today that brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Gap and Kohl’s are still getting their goods from a Bangladesh factory that just a year ago was the site of a massive fire that killed 29 workers.    [FULL  STORY]

If you spend any time on the Internet, you’ve likely run across some form of protest against SOPA and/or PROTECT IP, bills before Congress that supporters claim are necessary to protect copyrights and opponents say will destroy the Internet as we know it.     [FULL  STORY]

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the police kept the media away “to prevent a situation from getting worse and to protect members of the press.”

But according to the New York Times, one journalist told a police officer “I’m press!” and the officer just responded “Not tonight.”

If the mayor of our country’s largest city thinks protecting the press means silencing them, we’re in big trouble. And he’s not alone. Police harassment of the media has been reported during “Occupy” protests in Chicago, Denver, Oakland, Portland and beyond. More arrests are expected today as protests continue nationwide.

It’s time to tell mayors across the country to uphold our press freedoms.

Tell Mayor Bloomberg and the U.S. Conference of Mayors to publicly commit to defending the First Amendment and letting journalists do their jobs.

The NYPD is using more than words to fight journalists. On Tuesday, 10 reporters were arrested, another was put in a choke hold, and others were subjected to police harassment.

In fact, since the birth of the Occupy Wall Street movement two months ago, 23 journalists have been arrested^{2, 3} and countless others have been roughed up, tear-gassed and pepper sprayed. There have even been reports of police using high-powered strobe lights to disable video cameras and block people from recording their actions.

Demand that all U.S. mayors publicly commit to protecting freedom of the press.

Please sign this action and we will deliver your letter to Mayor Bloomberg and the Conference of Mayors and demand that they drop all charges and make this crucial commitment to upholding the First Amendment.

The freedom of our press is fundamental to our identity as Americans. As elected representatives charged with serving the people, our mayors must rein in these aggressive and violent tactics by local law enforcement.

Please take action right now.

Josh Stearns
Associate Program Director
Free Press
www.freepress.net

P.S. Great news: If we raise $300,000 by Dec. 31, 2011, two longtime supporters will kick in an additional $300,000. Donate today and your gift will pack double the punch in the fight to protect the First Amendment and journalists everywhere. Thank you!

1. Brian Stelter, “Reporters Say Police Denied Access to Protest Site,” New York Times, Nov. 15, 2011: http://act2.freepress.net/go/7342?akid=3062.9559736.jA1aHR&t=9

2. See a list of all journalists arrested at Occupy events since September, plus related videos and articles. http://act2.freepress.net/go/7343?akid=3062.9559736.jA1aHR&t=11

3. See a statement from the Society of Professional Journalists condemning the arrests. http://act2.freepress.net/go/7344?akid=3062.9559736.jA1aHR&t=13

A report in The New York Times suggests that the “Super Committee” in Congress—which has the power to fast-track it’s recommendations to reduce the deficit—is close to backing mandatory cuts to Social Security instead of tax increases for the richest one percent.

No way we can let this happen. This is a rotten deal that we have to stop.

Send a message that cuts to Social Security come with hell to pay from voters.  Click on this link

Discarded plastic bottles account for around 30% of trash at the Grand Canyon, so in an effort to reduce the amount of waste left behind by the oodles of visitors, the park was all set to launch a ban on the sale of bottled water. But then, after the folks at Coca-Cola voiced their concerns, a top national park official decided to pull the plug on the program.    [FULL  STORY]

China is dumping counterfeit electronic parts into the Pentagon’s supply chain, two senior lawmakers alleged on Monday.

Two Senators, John McCain, Republican-Arizona, and Carl Levin, Democrat-Michigan, said the counterfeits are putting U.S. troops at risk and undercutting the American economy.

One day before a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the issue, the Senators offered details of the panel’s ongoing investigation.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2058849/Chinese-counterfeit-electronic-parts-putting-U-S-military-risk. [FULL STORY]