Citizens United to End Political Bribery (Working Group)

Overview

Citizens United to End Political Bribery (CUEPB) is a Working Group pursuing the goal of getting corporate money out of politics.  We focus on realistic actions in Massachusetts, but also extend our efforts to nationwide politics.  This wiki page serves to collect information and discuss ideas before bringing proposals to Occupy Boston General Assembly.  Everything here should be considered a draft, unless conspicuously labeled otherwise.  To participate, come to one of our scheduled meetings or comment on the discussion tab for a page.  You can also edit a page, but we'd like to know who's involved, so please introduce yourself.

• Contact us at citizensunited@occupyboston.org
• Sign up to join our email list by clicking here. 
• Visit our website for a list of groups, events, and actions.

Main Events on January 20-21

On the January 20–21 anniversary of the Citizens United decision,  a wide coalition of groups will stand together for GETTING MONEY OUT OF POLITICS! Here is a list of events taking place on those dates

• January 20 | Occupy the Courts | Federal Courthouse | 12:30pm - 1:30pm 

• January 20 | Operation WOOF | Fan Pier | 1 Courthouse Way, Boston | 12:30pm - 1:30pm

• January 20 & 21 | Rally and Summit to Unite Citizens for Democracy | Boston

Meetings:

Agenda for Jan 16 Conference Call at 7pm (218-844-3377, access code 735433#)

1) Discuss and approve the schedule (30 minutes)

• Go around each to each group on the call.  Who can provide speakers for which break out session?
• How many tables will we need on Friday?
• Do we have one registration (sign in) table, or sign in tables for each group?
• Should we try and have one email list that will contain information about all the different groups?

2) Plan the next action (30 minutes)

<divA common theme from Wedensday's meeting was that we need to have clear actions for what the Rally/Summit attendees can do next.  One idea is a concerted lobbying effort to get a hearing for S772.  We are open to discussing other ideas, but whatever is decided, it should be determined which group(s) will take the lead.</div>

• MassVOTE has been talking about making a petition for people to do on/offline to the legislature on the resolution. They could bring that as a first step for people to do on the 20/21st and then reach back out to people about hearing dates, lobby dates, etc. Alternatively they could have the petition and maybe already have a lobby day scheduled that people can commit to. 
• Should we collect signatures as part of our lobbying effort?

3) Any other remaining issues that need to be discussed (up to 30 minutes)

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4) Occupy Working Group issues

On the day of the events, what jobs do we need done and who is assigned to do them.

• Food (Food WG)
• Collect Donations (Info Tent)
• Registration Table (Info Tent)
• Help with Group Discussion Facilitations
• Set Up (Laura, Andy, ...)
• Take Down (Laura, Andy, ...)
• Anything else?

Prior to the events, what do we need people to do?

• Get the $ from GA to pay St. Paul and Suffolk U. (?)
• Figure out MC and who will introduce speakers (?)
• Print Flyer (is this done?)
• Make sure to get on the Occupy Calendar (?)
• Make Donations Box Washer/Dryer (Casa)
• Media (Laura and Terra)
  • Contact public radio (Laura? Terra?)
  • Post our event on people's facebook pages (Laura tells Kevin or Gunner)
• Food (Laura + Food WG)
• Art (Mark)
• Get Facilitators to Come (Terra)
• Organizing the entertainment for Friday (?) Also, can some go on during the gathering time (4-4:30?)
• Notebooks for working groups

9 pm - Conference call with Citizens United Occupy DC chapter

Minutes from Previous Meetings

• 2012, Jan 11 Rally and Summit Organizational Meeting
• 2011, Dec 22 CUEPB
• 2011, Nov 30 BAAC
• 2011, Nov 22 CUEPB
• 2011, Nov 16 CUEPB
• 2011, Nov 12 Open Discussion of Udall Amendment

Background Information:

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission Opinion

• The minority dissenting opinion quoted at this link gives arguments against the Supreme Court's majority opinion. After a summary, the opinion continues (not quoted here,) describing in detail the laws and rulings related to corporate personhood.
• Under U.S. law, a corporation is a "corporate veil," protecting individuals inside a company from being prosecuted for the actions of the business. In 1886 the U.S. Supreme Court decided that corporations are entitled to many rights accorded to citizens, in its decision of Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Rail Road Co.
• In 1907 Congress passed the Tillman Act, prohibiting corporations from donating money directly to national political campaigns. This still holds, but in January 2010 the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 (in Citizens United v. FEC) that corporations can spend unlimited amounts on political advertisements as long as they don't directly coordinate that spending with an actual candidate.
• The Citizens United v. FEC decision invalidated protections that had existed in Massachusetts General Law, according to a March, 2010 ruling of the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Many bills are now being introduced in Massachusetts and at the federal level to counteract the wide effects of last year's Supreme Court decision by restricting corporate money from influencing politics.

Campaign Finance Legislation (passed and pending)

• Click here for a list of legislation

Additional Resources

• The Campaign Finance Institute
• How to End Corruption (according to Jack Abramoff)