California Common Cause introduces statewide redistricting initiative for 2008 ballot - California Common Cause, AARP, and the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce introduced the `Voters FIRST Act' initiative to remove the conflict of interest of having lawmakers draw their own legislative districts. The measure would establish an independent commission made up of five Democrats, five Republicans, and four others who would draw state legislative districts that complied with the Voting Rights Act, had equal populations, and would respect the boundaries of communities, while ignoring political interests. The measure needs one million signatures to qualify for the November 2008 ballot as planned. "We have seen time and again cities and communities carved up as part of incumbents protecting themselves," said Kathay Feng, CA CC executive director. Lawmakers are typically unwilling to give up their redistricting authority, however, and with the state session winding down, the coalition moved to the initiative process to put the choice directly to California citizens.
Common Cause Georgia establishes first satellite unit outside Atlanta - Common Cause has arrived in Columbus, GA! Thirty Columbus residents welcomed the first satellite CC/GA unit outside the greater Atlanta metro area at the Chattahoochee River Club last Sunday. This should make the state organization even more effective, and it's "another example of people being the watchdogs, proactively engaged," says executive director Bill Bozarth. Columbus resident Nolan Murrah recently joined the state chapter's board and led the expansion effort. "Their motto is ethics, transparency and citizen involvement. When they said that was what they were about, I got on board," Murrah said. "I agree with them that Common Cause ought to be active with those same precepts in Columbus, Macon, Savannah, Valdosta, Augusta, Athens and Albany, and so forth." Terrific ambition--onward and upward!
Governor of Wisconsin breaks promise on campaign finance reform - Governor Doyle will not call a special legislative session to pass campaign finance reform, despite promises made last year by Chief of Staff Susan Goodwin to Common Cause Wisconsin and Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. The Doyle camp is holding steadfast to their claim that Goodwin never made such promises and the reformers' recollections are "incorrect." CC/WI executive director Jay Heck replied: "It's despicable and underhanded for them to deny 10 months after something happened that it never happened." Given Doyle's past support of campaign finance reform, an especially expensive $32 million campaign, and an increase in third party attack ads, this broken promise is discouraging. As a remedy, CC/WI helped craft a bipartisan campaign finance reform bill in the state Senate and is working with sponsors Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) and Mike Ellis (R-Neenah) for its passage.
Common Cause Nebraska still gunning for Public Service Commission campaign reform - First year state Senator Bill Avery, a former Common Cause member, introduced a bill, LB61, to limit campaign contributions to members of the Public Service Commission (PSC) by prohibiting contributions from companies and utilities that the PSC regulates. Nebraska is one of twelve states that elect their Public Service Commissioners as opposed to appointing them. The bill never made it out of committee, but Common Cause is not giving up the fight. "The commission is supposed to be protecting the public. Its mission is to assure Nebraskans receive high quality, safe and reliable public services at fair and affordable rates. Taking away those contributions forces commissioners to become dependent on the public, not the utilities," said CC-NE's Jack Gould. Avery isn't about to stand down, either: "It's not going to go away because I'm not going to go away," he said.
Hearing, rally, and continued pressure on FCC to block media consolidation and support localism - The FCC promised to hold a hearing on media localism in Washington, DC, way back in 2003. Yet it took until 2007, and then they only gave seven days notice of the scheduled date. No matter--Common Cause and our allies turned out scores of people for a pre-hearing rally at 9 a.m., highlighting the fervent support for stopping further media consolidation and allowing local and independent media to flourish. (And featuring song and dance.) Meanwhile, in Congress, a pair of strange bedfellows--Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS) and Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND)-- vowed to work together to prevent further consolidation, and were joined by Presidential contenders, Senate allies, as well as House members led by Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY). The message was clear: a strong and diverse media is critical for democracy. Hopefully the FCC hears it.
