The United States Senate failed the American people this week by shamefully voting down crucial legislation to protect our democracy.
So, what comes next?
First, we are going to keep fighting for the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
In an era when Congress was more functional (or at least less dysfunctional), it was common for legislation to lose an initial floor vote but then gain more support and ultimately win passage.
We will keep fighting for as long as it takes — and we’re definitely not letting *any* senators off the hook who voted against our democracy or against commonsense changes to arcane Senate rules that would have allowed the legislation to pass.
Tell the U.S. Senate:
You must reverse your catastrophic failure. We demand passage of the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. And we will keep demanding action until you do the right thing to secure our democracy.
Add your name now.
Of course, we have no illusions about what the Senate did, and we know that it is imperative to pursue other strategies — with even greater urgency — in order to head off authoritarianism, resist racist voter suppression, and defend democracy.
Here’s a brief overview of Public Citizen’s plan of attack:
CREATING A MOVEMENT FOR VOTER TURNOUT
For the 2020 election, we innovated new programs to drive voter turnout.
We developed new ways to reach young voters and to help create a cultural movement around voting, including but not only by engaging celebrities.
Against the naked efforts around the nation to deter and block voters, we will build on our 2020 work.
Working with allies, we will take on and overcome obstacles designed to deny people the freedom to vote.
We intend to get more people registered, more people voting early, and more people to the polls on Election Day.
DEFENDING ELECTION INTEGRITY
With Trumpist forces aiming to institutionalize the Big Lie, we’re going to work nationwide to ensure elections are carried out honestly, that votes are properly counted, and that the candidates with the most votes are declared the winners.
As we build a culture and community of civic engagement, we will recruit poll workers to watch over polling places.
We will support election officials who are facing death threats and intimidation for the “crime” of doing their jobs.
And we will do everything we can to combat schemes in states, counties, and towns intended to politicize election administration and vote counting.
PUSHING CONGRESS TO TAKE SOME ACTION ON DEMOCRACY
There are other democracy bills still alive in Congress — including the Protecting Our Democracy Act — that have a real chance of passage, in whole or in part, even with the filibuster.
These bills are *not* substitutes for the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. But they would make a real difference on key issues.
And, again, we’re not letting Congress off the hook for its duty to protect our democracy.
DEMANDING EXECUTIVE ACTION
The Freedom to Vote Act would have gotten Dark Money out of federal elections at last.
President Biden, however, has the power to reduce Dark Money by requiring corporations that do business with the government to disclose their political spending.
And a federal agency called the Securities and Exchange Commission could require all publicly traded companies to reveal their political spending.
Public Citizen has led the charge for both of these important measures, and we’re going to intensify our advocacy in the weeks and months ahead.
HELPING STATES AND LOCALITIES ADVANCE DEMOCRACY
While many states have backtracked on voting rights, others have actually taken steps toward making it easier to vote.
Several states and localities — including Washington, D.C. — have adopted small-donor and public financing of elections.
Especially if things are stalled at the federal level, there will be lots of actions in the states, good and bad.
We’re going to engage with partners — state by state, city by city — to protect and strengthen our democracy.
OVERTURNING CITIZENS UNITED
Twelve years ago today, as it happens, the Supreme Court issued its disastrous Citizens United ruling, enabling almost unprecedented domination of our elections by billionaires and Big Business.
It’s not easy to encapsulate the degree to which wealth dominates our elections, but here’s one measure: Just 100 people — almost all of them white — are responsible for 70% of individual contributions to Super PACs.
Public Citizen has helped lead a grassroots movement for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United that has so far seen a remarkable 22 states, along with 800 cities and towns, pass resolutions calling for an amendment!
We’re going to keep building on that momentum until the day comes — not that far off — when we win that amendment.
Look, there’s no sugar-coating what the Senate did this week.
But however disappointed we are, we cannot be dispirited.
Capitulating to racist voter suppression. Crossing our fingers that authoritarian forces won’t subvert elections. Continuing to allow Big Money to dominate our elections.
I refuse to accept those as options. And I know you do, too.
For right now, please tell each and every senator that we’re not letting them off the hook and that we continue to demand they pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
Then get ready for the hard campaigning and organizing we have to do to make our country what it should be.
For democracy and justice,
- Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen
Public Citizen | 1600 20th Street NW | Washington DC 20009 | Unsubscribe