ENEWS

CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS…MONTHLY QUOTES & IDEAS…DEMOCRACY UPDATE …GUNS & MONEY…
FACTS YOU CAN USE

CAMPUS HIGHLIGHT  George Washington University
 Democracy Matters at GW, located in Washington DC, is uniquely positioned to influence national politics.GW DM (2) 3DM leader Ishana Bandyopadhyay explains: “By interacting directly with government officials, we make our voices heard. Lobbying Congress on issues important to us not only empowers DMers, but spreads political engagement throughout the campus.” 

QUOTES OF THE MONTH

“Justice is about making sure that being polite is not the same thing as being quiet.” 
 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
“Well-behaved women seldom make history.”
Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/a4056/empowering-female-quotes/

IDEAS OF THE MONTH 

In March, Democracy Matters chapters join other campus groups honoring women’s activism.
International Women’s Day was first  observed in 1911. Each year on March 8th, women worldwide have rallied and marched, calling for peace, women’s political engagement, and an end to sexual violence and workplace exploitation.
In March, we also celebrate Women’s History Month with campus actions and discussions. This year, our focus is on resisting the attacks on women’s reproductive rights, encouraging women to run for political office, and ending the shameful poverty of women-headed families. 
https://www.un.org/en/observances/womens-day

DEMOCRACY UPDATE
Last month, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse led 163 House and Senate colleagues in introducing the Disclose Act, legislation to end the corrupting influence of dark money and make government more accountable to voters. Sen. Elizabeth Warren argued that the act is essential because “billionaires and shadowy groups have been spending vast amounts of secret money to buy control of our politics and courts.” 

The For The People Act is expected to be reintroduced in Congress as early as next month. It contains dozens of provisions to strengthen democracy, including expanding voting rights, ending partisan gerrymandering, permitting public campaign financing for Congressional races, and also robust ethics reforms. The act passed the House in both 2019  and 2021, but was blocked in the Senate. This year, advocates are determined to pass the act in both houses of Congress.
https://www.whitehouse.senate.gov/news/release/whitehouse-cicilline-reintroduce-disclose-act-to-end-corrupting-influence-of-dark-money-in-american-democracy

MONEY ON MY MIND: GUNS AND MONEY

Even as massacres continue, there is no meaningful Congressional action despite the large number of Americans who support gun regulation.
Mandle follows the numbers, demonstrating that the millions spent on campaigns and lobbying by gun manufacturers and other gun-control opponents have effectively stiffled any efforts to protect us from the scourge of gun violence.
https://www.democracymatters.org/money_on_my_mind/guns-and-money

FACTS TO USE How Much? Too Much!! 
Following the 1970s Watergate scandals, Congress passed what was hailed as revolutionary campaign finance reform.  For the first time, limits were set on the amount of money an individual could donate to a Congressional candidate or political party. Democracy, it was claimed, was saved from the domination of the rich.
Contribution “limits” for the 2024 election are listed below. What do you think? Has democracy been saved? 

  • Any individual may give $3,300  per election to a Congressional candidate. [This amount may be donated to an unlimited number of candidates. And because each family member may give $3,300, a family of four individuals (or example) may give 4 X 3,300 ($13,200) to each candidate].  Plus…
  • Any individual may give $10,000 per year to a state, county or  local political party (e.g. NY State Democratic Party or Los Angeles Republican Party etc).  Plus…
  • Any individual may give $41,300 per year to a national political party (e.g. Republican Party; Democratic Party).  Plus…
  • Any individual may give $123,900 per year to a specified committee of a national political party (e.g. committee for the Presidential nominating convention; committee for election recounts etc).
  • TOTAL: In 2024, an individual may give a total of $178,500 in “limited” political funding. (This total may be multiplied by the number of individuals in a family, and also increased by the number of candidates contributed to).