Freedom From Speech: A petition you *don't* want to sign

Published on July 27th 2011
Must-Watch Video: "The Story of Citizens United v. FEC (2011)"

There is a deceptive ballot measure in paid circulation right now that would effectively eliminate the voice of working people in the halls of government.

Its backers? Billionaires and corporations who want to silence the voices of librarians, nurses, bus drivers, social workers, and other people like us. This initiative isn't about "getting special interests out of politics." It's about gaming the system so that CEOs, Wall Street bankers, tobacco companies, oil companies, and drug companies can control our state without any opposition.

[Download a flier in the Current Downloads box to the right.]

  • Please DO NOT sign this initiative.
     
  • Please DO call toll free 1-877-440-9585 to report any signature gathering activities you encounter.
     
  • Please DO download and circulate the flyer that accompanies this article.

What the initiative would do (to us)

The initiative will ban the voluntary political contributions that workers now make and create a new set of rules that deliberately makes it almost it impossible for working people to compete with corporate power and money.

The initiative imposes strict restrictions on the dues money that union members contribute -- but not on corporate profits. In fact, this initiative places NO restrictions at all on corporate political action committees.

The initiative is funded by oil and real estate interests, wealthy investors and CEOs who already outspend us 15-to-1 according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan organization that studies money and politics.

Californians have rejected two similar measures to silence the voices of working people -- that's why backers are pretending to limit corporate contributions this time around. One of the two was Prop. 75, which suffered a resounding defeat in the union-busting special election that then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's called in 2005.

The official title of the initiative is "Prohibits Political Contributions by Payroll Deduction. Prohibitions on Contributions to Candidates." The special interests behind it ironically refer to it as the "Stop Special Interest Money Now Act." Imagine that!

Click here to read the complete text of the measure. Click the link below — or in the Current Downloads box — to download a flier.

Then don't take action. Don't give corporate special interests the rope they plan to use to hang us.
 

application/pdf iconFlier: "Don't Let Them Silence Our Voices"

Comments

Wed, 09/14/2011 - 3:25 pm
Anonymous
Anonymous's picture
mendocino county abuse of funds
I want to inform you of waste of taxpayers monies, seeing what is going on with your county employees. I wish to remain anonymous in reporting this. I don't know if you noticed alot of county vehicles being used for personal uses. I see a county truck commuting to lake county everyday, I believe he works here in Mendocino county, and lives in Lake county. I am a resident of Mendocino county, and don't think it is fair or approriate that my taxes are used for this person to commute from Lake County to report to work here. He is not paying to Mendocino county(i.e. taxes. This is only one case I know of, who knows how many more are used. This is a cost to all concerned by gas, up keep of vehicle, insurance. If this is a supervisor or something, in order to use a County vehicle, he should be doing county business, not for daily use to report to work!! I reported it to the UDJ but they didn't investigate it. I reported the same thing to a Lake county communiting back and forth, and they investigated it, haven't seen a Lake county vehicle doing it again..This not fair to me or your people, this is just unfair!!! You guys keep fighting for the little people!!!