Campaign Finance Task Force Meeting 2/22/17

Brainstorm – initiatives and resources to influence local & statewide campaign finance reform

Discussion:  Target one of the following issues as a group, or prioritize several.  Which ones?

1) Represent.US: get town resolutions in support of AACA; model ™ articles available.

2) “We the People Act” MA HD 1991 and SD 476.  Massachusetts proposes an amendment to the US Constitution that would affirm:

a) Protected rights … are the rights of natural persons, (humans, not corporations, etc);
b) Congress and the states shall place limits on political contributions and expenditures to ensure that all citizens have access to the political process;
c) Spending of money to influence elections is not protected free speech under the First Amendment
This can be done through a limited Constitutional Convention for the exclusive purpose of addressing concerns raised by Citizens United v. FEC, McCutcheon v. FEC and related decisions, when 33 other states submit petitions for the same purpose…

3) Ranked Choice Voting, MA SD380

Any city or town may conduct a local election using ranked choice voting in which voters    rank the candidates for an office in order of preference…

4) General agreement on importance to reach out to GCC students once our focus is determined.

Action items

  1. Focus on bills already filed in the state legislature, as well as American Anti-Corruption Act
  2. Research legislation’s language; its co-sponsors,  do local legislators support them?
  3. Pursue warrant articles at town meetings to pass resolutions in support of American Anti-corruption Act and/or Citizens United

NEXT MEETING:  Wednesday,   March 22, 2017,   7-8:30 p.m., 43 Garage Road, Sunderland  01375

AGENDA:                Updates on action items,  prioritize future work, task force outreach