HR1

HR1: THE “FOR THE PEOPLE ACT” 

big money, increase oversight and accountability, secure and modernize our elections, and ensure politicians work for voters, not special interests.

Yes, we won the 2020 election, but the fight is not over yet! The NABWMT will review and collaborate to end  gerrymandering, modernize voter registration, enhance voting access, empower everyday citizens through public financing of elections, secure our voting systems, increase oversight and accountability to enforce existing laws, strengthen lobbying rules and transparency, slow the “revolving door” and strengthen conflict of interest rules, and shine a light on dark money.

 

 

Every ten years, the U.S. conducts a census and the states then redraws its voting district lines to reflect the population changes.

 

In many states right now, politicians can draw their own district lines. This gives them the ability to decide the outcome of an election before it even happens. When politicians create districts to favor their own re-election or unfairly favor their party, it’s called gerrymandering. It means politicians choose their voters, not the other way around.  states, including Ohio, Virginia, and Michigan, have outlawed gerrymandering. These states take partisan politics out of the redistricting process, ensuring voting maps are drawn by independent commissions.

 

The For the People Act would build on this momentum by making gerrymandering illegal in all 50 states.

 

Just over half of the voting age population actually voted in 2016, and while turnout soared in 2020, we still have a ways to go. We can’t have a government of, by, and for the people if we the people don’t turn out to the polls. But our current “opt-in” voter registration process is messy, out of reach, and often out of date — making it harder to register and turn out to vote.

 

The Act would make registering to vote simpler and smoother by expanding Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) nation-wide. Already established in 18 states, AVR seamlessly and automatically keeps voter rolls accurate and up to date. It works by creating an “opt-out” system for voter registration. Any time you interact with a government agency (think the Department of Motor Vehicles or other state and federal agencies), you’ll be automatically registered to vote or have your voter information updated, unless you choose to opt out.

 

If you don’t opt out, your information is electronically transferred from the agency to election officials. That way, AVR seamlessly and automatically keeps our voter rolls accurate and up to date. Plus, since many of these agencies require identification to complete the paperwork, AVR provides tighter security.

 

The Act also requires states to offer online and same-day voter registration. That way, you can register to vote on Election Day or during early voting, ensuring voting is simple and secure for eligible voters.

 

Registering to vote is the first step — the second is actually casting a ballot. Even for registered voters, the process of voting can be inconvenient and time consuming. Think about it: voting on a Tuesday in November requires Americans to take time off work, find child care, get transportation to the polls, and sometimes wait in line for hours just to vote.

 

The Act would expand the number of options and amount of time for voters to return their ballots, making voting more accessible. It would require all states to offer at least 15 days of early, in-person voting for federal elections and no-excuse absentee voting (aka vote by mail). Voters would have a variety of secure return options for their mail-in ballot.

  

In addition, the bill would restore voting rights to former felons and formally call for stronger voting rights for Native Americans and residents of Washington, D.C. and U.S. territories.

 

With foreign and domestic threats to the integrity of our elections, it’s more important than ever that our electoral systems are secure. But right now, states use a messy, patchwork system, with many relying on electronic voting machines without a paper trail.

 

The Act would defend our future elections by ensuring every state is following the most secure practices and have up-to-date voting equipment. It would require states to use individual, voter-verified paper ballots — widely regarded as the most effective secure voting system. States would notify voters of mistakes with their ballot that could prevent it from being counted and give voters plenty of time to fix (or “cure”) their ballots. It would also increase oversight of election systems, develop a national strategy to protect our democratic institutions, and provide funding for election system upgrades.

 

The 2010 Supreme Court decision Citizens United enabled vast amounts of dark, untraceable money into our political system. In the past decade, dark money groups have donated over $1 billion in secret money to candidates and campaigns. When Americans don’t know where massive campaign funds are coming from, they can’t know who is trying to influence their vote, or why.

 

Political spending by dark money groups in the 2000-2008 cycles reached just $130 million, while the 2010-2018 cycles were flooded with $963 million.

 

The Act would take significant steps to stop secret campaign donations by requiring that organizations spending money on elections or judicial nominations disclose their donors who contribute more than $10,000. It also extends disclosure requirements to the internet and digital communications, and breaks the practice of big-money donors and special interests hiding their true funding sources. 

 

Plus, though symbolic rather than impactful, the Act would formally denounce the Citizens United decision and recommend it be amended.

 

Since 2010, just eleven people have contributed a fifth of the $4.9 billion super PACs have raised. Money drives campaign ads, voter outreach, and other vital aspects of a candidate’s path to victory. When a handful of elite individuals get to decide how billions of these dollars are spent, they get to decide our elections. 

 

The Act would level the playing field, giving voters a way to fund candidate campaigns without costing them a penny.

 

The Act establishes a 6-to-1 matching system for congressional or presidential candidates who agree to reject big contributions. That means that everyday Americans could increase their political influence 6-fold, turning a $10 donation to a candidate into a $60 donation.

 

The best part? It would cost taxpayers nothing. Instead, the matching system would be funded entirely through extra charges on settlements paid by wealthy tax cheats and corporate law breakers.

 

In states like Arizona and Connecticut this system is already implemented and it has enabled candidates to raise more money from small-dollar donors, making for a more diverse and representative influence on their campaigns and political decisions. It allows candidates to rely less on high-dollar fundraisers, so they can spend more time in their communities. That way, qualified candidates can stay competitive without losing sight of what really matters: their voters.

 

Additionally, the Act would establish “democracy dollars” pilot programs in three states. Instead of multiplying the donation an average American makes to their candidate of choice, it establishes a pre-paid voucher program, enabling eligible citizens to request $25 vouchers which they can then donate to their chosen U.S. House candidate. In Seattle, which uses a similar system, political campaigns are supported by a broader and more diverse pool of donors.

 

Increase Oversight and Accountability to Enforce Existing Laws

Even the best laws mean nothing if they’re not enforced — and our enforcement mechanisms have been broken for too long, allowing rule breakers to slip through the cracks. In the U.S., the Federal Election Commission (FEC) is responsible for enforcing federal campaign finance laws. In recent years, the FEC has been hamstrung by gridlock and partisanship, creating a backlog of cases.

 

The For the People Act would begin to reinvigorate the FEC to make sure candidates can’t get away with breaking laws. It would prevent gridlock by requiring an odd number of commissioners, so that crucial enforcement actions and decisions can be made by majority vote, instead of getting stuck in a tied vote.

 

While it’s illegal for special interests to donate directly to politicians, it’s perfectly legal for them to give money to lobbyists, who then donate to politicians. HR1: the For the People Act would reform lobbying to break the grip of special interests on our government.

full text of the Act  xhttps://democracyreform-sarbanes.house.gov/sites/democracyreform.house.gov/files/SIMPLE-SECTION-BY-SECTION_H.R.-1_FINAL.pdf

The Act would crack down on lobbying and reduce lobbyist influence on politicians by: 1. Broadening the definition of lobbying (to stop consultants and counselors from wielding under-the-table influence); 2. strengthening disclosure rules (so that we know who is making money off of pressuring our officials); and 3. prohibiting foreign countries from hiring lobbyists to influence our elections.

 

This would close loopholes and increase transparency, so special interests can’t slip their influence under the radar and pull politicians’ strings in secret. It would also establish a public clearinghouse of information, so that anyone can easily access a searchable online database of lobbyists and their actions.

 

Politicians who become lobbyists get a 1,400% pay raise. 42% of U.S. Representatives and 50% of U.S. Senators become lobbyists after leaving Congress. This is known as the “Revolving Door”.

 

While an elected official is in office, they build key relationships with policy makers and other influential politicians. And when they leave, they often leverage that political influence to give private companies even more access to lawmakers — in exchange for cold hard cash.

 

When former politicians move easily between public office and the private sector, this is known as the “revolving door” — and it’s a major way that corporations influence public policy. The Act doesn’t close the door all the way — but it does require officials to wait two years before joining an industry they oversaw in government service or awarding contracts to their own former employers. It also restricts senior officials from lobbying their old coworkers for two years.

 

The Act would require officials to disclose conflicts of interest and take an ethics pledge, and strengthen enforcement and oversight of these issues. It would require presidential and vice presidential candidates to publish their tax returns.

 

We’ve tried to be comprehensive and detailed in explaining the contents of this bill, but you can also read the full text of the Act  below in the sources.

 

The For the People Act is the biggest anti-corruption reform in generations. We must do everything in our power to get it passed.  If enough of us take real action, we can win this fight. 

 

Source: https://act.represent.us/sign/whats-hr-1-and-how-to-pass-it/

full text of the Act  xhttps://democracyreform-sarbanes.house.gov/sites/democracyreform.house.gov/files/SIMPLE-SECTION-BY-SECTION_H.R.-1_FINAL.pdf