Tell Members of Congress: Respect the First Amendment and Democracy, Stop Charging Your Constituents for Access!
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Sign the petition:
| “Dear Representative, “The First Amendment states that Americans have the right to "petition the Government for a redress of grievances" and does NOT include the words "only if they are willing and able to pay for that privilege." The new practice of outsourcing constituent meetings to third parties that raise money on the events is an affront to democracy AND to the First Amendment. I” urge you to respect the First Amendment and your constituents. Democracy should not be a "pay-per-view". Stop charging fees for constituent meetings.” |
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“Congressmen like Paul Ryan (R-WI) Ben Quayle (R-AZ) and Chip Cravaack (R-MN), instead of hosting their own constituent town hall meetings, are having events hosted for them by friendly organizations with a fee for attendance. These members of Congress are so desperate to shelter themselves from criticism that they are denying their constituents' basic democratic access to their elected officials.
The First Amendment states that Americans have the right to "petition the Government for a redress of grievances" and does NOT include the words "only if they are willing and able to pay for that privilege." What Ryan and his colleagues are doing is an affront to American democracy AND to the First Amendment.”
Cassi Creek:
We are well within the zone that would have allowed us to feel the earthquake that struck near Mineral VA, yesterday. We were awake and working in our office. Despite our availability and proximity, we missed the event. For us, other forces were required to move the earth. As with Galileo, we can happily say,” "Eppur si muove"
I rarely forward jokes, on-line warnings, or petitions. The jokes have always been around at least three cycles. The on-line warnings are almost always untrue. And, petitions are like chain letters, poorly designed, single in purpose, and best deleted unread.
However, Congress, still on vacation claims that it needs that 5-week vacation in order to return to their home districts in order to talk to their constituents and find out what concerns them. How is it, then, that over 50% of the House members has not and will not be holding town hall meetings this summer? Having a paid admission event brings out only those party members who will pay toward re-election. Those constituents who don’t belong to “the Party” and those who can’t afford tickets to enter the presence of the exalted are being disenfranchised by the corporate lobbyists that are now arranging meetings that support their corporation’s desires.
Our Congressman has not scheduled any public meetings that I can discover. He has scheduled some conference calls that are highly screened. I’ve actually sat through a couple of them – inconveniently scheduled at a time when many people are dining – but once I gave the screener my concerns I was put into a hold queue and politely ignored until the allotted time was consumed. I was able to hear him lie to elderly women, telling them that “Palin’s death panels” would apply to them. As a retired physician, he knew better. Such is access for those who don’t belong to the party.
This process of pay for access is designed to get around the people’s right to address their concerns with their elected representatives. Congress needs to respond to all its constituents, not just those with deep pockets. If you are in agreement, let your Congressman/Congresswoman know.
Last item of the day. Many in Congress have signed some idiotic “pledge” written by Grover Norquist. Norquist can only reside in one Congressional district. Those signers who don’t represent that particular district are betraying their constituents and their districts. They should face recall.
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