Petition to the FEC on Super PAC Regulation
**Update** March 28, 2013 — FEC Chairwoman Ellen Weintraub agreed to our request, saying "sooner would be better." Please add your signature to our second, bipartisan petition targeting the remaining members of the commission.
FEC Chairwoman Ellen L. Wientraub recently acknowledged the potential corruption of candidate-specific super PACs, but her remarks said nothing of a plan to address this. Please join Rootstrikers in demanding that the FEC hold a public hearing — the first it will have held in almost a year — regarding super PAC regulation.
Click here to read the full letter Lawrence Lessig sent to Chairwoman Weintraub. >>
In 2012 the commission provided much needed clarity on issues such as internet fundraising and texting contributions. Important work still needs to be done to determine:
- Whether a super PAC can use candidate footage, or a candidate can fundraise for a super PAC, and that super PAC still remain independent;
- If the "magic words" cited in Buckley v. Valeo are the only ones subject to regulation as express advocacy;
- Are there any statutory standards to prosecute independent groups who produce ads that are not "coordinated" under FEC regulations;
- Can a super PAC be run by a candidate's past campaign staff or family members?
The FEC's first and only act in 2013 has been to raise contribution limits to $2,600 for individuals and $123,200 in aggregate. Are we to understand that the FEC's priority is to increase spending, not regulate it?
1,836 signaturesWill the FEC acknowledge the deeply rooted corruption that grows along both sides of the aisle, and call for a hearing to discuss the regulation of candidate-specific super PACs?
Scenes from a Weekend of Action
Pictures from this weekend's actions are steadily coming in, we'll add them to this slide show as they do. We made a lot of noise this weekend, talked to a lot of new people and had some serious fun. Time to start thinking about next month's street team action!
Street Team
On The Record: Prepare Your Interview.
Posted by Rebecca Arington · March 28, 2013 7:07 PM · 1 reactionCall to Action: Get Members of Congress on the Record!
Posted by Jay Costa · March 14, 2013 2:05 PM · 5 reactionsHelp us build out the "Resources" section of the website
Posted by Jay Costa · February 04, 2013 8:05 PM · 1 reaction
A Gift for Rootstrikers
Rootstrikers is a national non-profit organization and community challenging the corruption that cripples our government. We work across the movement to build and share tools that make it easy for anyone to recognize this signal threat to our Republic.
Citizens all across the country have used our resources to understand corruption and fight for real, lasting reform. A gift today is an investment in the future of Rootstrikers as a place to collaborate, share, and learn, and in the future of an anti-corruption movement with more Rootstrikers.
A Sneak Peek and a Humble Holiday Request
In January, Rootstrikers will open up our most valuable resource to the movement at large when we publish an archive of Lawrence Lessig's anti-corruption talks. Not just the videos — the raw materials of the slides themselves.
A project like this has never been done before. We're going to need your help.
This campaign consists of two parts, so we will launch it in two phases. At the beginning of January, we will mobilize a dedicated team of volunteers to help curate Lessig's presentations and get them ready for distribution. If you're up for the task, let us know here.
Then, on January 21st, the third anniversary of Citizens United, we'll open up the project and invite the public to begin remixing. This year, the birthday of this infamous Supreme Court ruling has even more relevance to our cause, because it's also the anniversary of Martin Luther King's birthday. What better day to launch an initiative for widespread nonviolent protest against government inadequacy?
You can support this campaign by donating right now. Like all of our campaigns, this one will be volunteer driven, but your contribution will determine how well we can amplify their efforts and distribute their remixes.
Reform will go as far as we can take it. Let's take it all the way, and let's start by building the means necessary with this campaign.
Neal Bastek commented on Congress: Slightly Better than a Group of Used Car Salesmen"
2012-12-04 10:47:57 -0500
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Voters not Donors
Over the past few days, many of us have taken to the streets, remixing the election and shining light on the money behind the candidates. We've broached the subject no mainstream candidate will for fear of offending their sole source of strength. We've asked the questions no political journalist can for fear of losing access to those in power. We've shared the facts about what so many of us believe in our guts and in our hearts to be the truth.
Today marks a moment of change, but we're painfully aware that real change won't come until we put a stop to the corrupting influence that money has on our political system.
So please, after you've voted, let your friends know you intend to keep up this fight by sharing this message:I know it will take more than my vote to fix our corrupt system. Join me at Rootstrikers to fight for a better one.
Keep Money Out
Today thousands of people across the country are sharing this image – both online and on the streets – in order to spread a simple message: keep big money out of our elections. If you agree, you are part of the silent majority. Over 80% of Americans want limits to the amount of money that corporations can give to political campaigns, and more than two-thirds want to do away with super PACs altogether. It’s time we make ourselves heard.
