from Marc Stier: 

Dear Friends,

If we want to see health care reform enacted right, and the rest of the progressive agenda move forward, we have to first protect our democracy.

That's why Penn Action and Health Care For America Now are joining MoveOn.org's 98% campaign, calling for political reforms that protect the rights of the 98% of us who don't contribute heavily to political candidates.

You can take part in a number of events that are part of this campaign this week:

10 Aug 11:45 AM
Congressman Jim Gerlach's District Office
580 Main Street, Suite 4, Trappe, PA 19426
http://pol.moveon.org/event/pledgerally/106020

 10 Aug 12:00 PM
Protestors corner/Courthouse Square
corner of SPRUCE AND ADAMS, Scranton, PA 18503
Targetting Congressman Rep. Kanjorsky
http://pol.moveon.org/event/pledgerally/106180 

10 Aug 12:00 PM
Mellon Square, the corner of William Penn Place and 6th St., Downtown
529 Smithfield St., Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Targetting Congressman Mike Doyle (PA-14)
http://pol.moveon.org/event/pledgerally/105759
 
10 Aug 04:00 PM
Congressman Charlie Dent's Office
701 W. Broad St., Bethlehem, PA 18018
http://pol.moveon.org/event/pledgerally/105735
 
10 Aug 12:00 PM
Penn Square
Penn Square NW, Lancaster, PA 17603
Targetting Congressman Joe Pitts (PA_16)
http://pol.moveon.org/event/pledgerally/105754 

Throughout our fight for health care reform, we were up against corporate interests that had almost an unlimited capacity to run television ads that told ridiculous lies about the the legislation. We were also challenged by the contributions corporate executives made to our political officials. But the corporations themselves were limited in the use they could make of corporate funds for electoral purposes.

After the Citizen's United case, those limits are a thing of a past. And so those of us who care not just about health care reform but about the whole progressive agenda--jobs, green energy, good schools and beyond--have to focus our attention now on the pre-requisite to any progressive public policy, preserving our democracy.

That's why we are calling on Congress to:

--Overturn Citizens United: Amend the Constitution to protect America from unlimited corporate spending on our elections by overturning the Supreme Court's decision giving corporations the same First Amendment rights as people.

--Create Fair elections now: Pass the Fair Elections Now Act, providing public financing to candidates who are supported by small donors so they can compete with corporate-backed and self-funded candidates.

--Pass the Lobbyist Reform Act: Pass legislation to end the overwhelming influence of corporate lobbyists by: prohibiting individuals from switching from corporate lobbying to government service, or vice-versa, within a 5-year period; stopping corporate lobbyists from giving gifts and providing free travel to members of Congress

Please join us at the events listed above to register these demands with your member of Congress.

Marc

PS If you haven't done so yet, help us re-lauch Penn Action as a strong progressvie grassroots organization by taking our an on-line survey  about Penn Action should be or by joining our email list.

Marc Stier
Executive Director, Penn Action
PA Director, Health Care for America Now
MarcStier@pennaction.org
215 880-6142