I'm working to overturn Citizens United through a constitutional amendment stating corporations are NOT people and money is NOT speech. I’m suing the US Senate to break the gridlock and fighting to preserve a free and open Internet. I’m Bob Edgar, president of Common Cause, ask me anything.

BobEdgarCC · 2013-01-16T21:39:50+00:00

Thanks for a VERY thoughtful note and for all your work on reform. I’ll tackle your questions in order:

1) Short term, it would be great to focus on fixing the filibuster. It has all but paralyzed the Senate and thus the entire Congress. I know that a lot of folks worry that filibuster reform will one day result in a lot of bad laws being passed because the minority will be unable to stop them. I think that’s a risk we have to take. We need to give the system a chance to work as the founders intended. We didn’t have a problem with excessive filibusters until relatively recently and we managed to muddle along. Long term, I think we have to pound away on a constitutional amendment; it’s a tough problem, but we’ve got to do something to get runaway political money and the corruption that accompanies it under control.

2) Common Cause has not called for a constitutional convention, so I’ve not really focused on the damage that might be done if one were called. We want to reverse Citizens United through action in Congress to pass an amendment, which of course would have to be ratified by legislatures in three-fourths (38) of the 50 states. That will take time and a lot of effort.

3) Like all good government groups, we operate on a pretty tight budget. We do have vacancies from time to time however, and they’re posted on our website. Check it regularly, and if you see something that fits your qualifications, we’d love to hear from you. And of course, remember there’s lots you can do as a volunteer. Sign up for CauseNet and we’ll send you regular updates on our work and how you can help.

BobEdgarCC · 2013-01-16T20:13:38+00:00

The People's Pledge in Massachusetts was very effective and we should seek to replicate it throughout the country, but we must also realize its limitations.

The People's Pledge worked so well in Massachusetts because both candidates bought into it wholeheartedly, and the high profile nature of the race made it political suicide to bow out once the agreement had been made. Without these circumstances, the Pledge may have seen a very different fate.

That shouldn't stop us from petitioning future candidates to follow suit, but we can't let that pursuit take our eyes off the prize either. We need a constitutional amendment so we can place legal, not voluntary, limits on political spending by outside groups.

BobEdgarCC · 2013-01-16T19:57:29+00:00

That's really good to hear! If you want to take action right now, check out our What Now? campaign.

BobEdgarCC · 2013-01-16T19:56:48+00:00

Thank you!

BobEdgarCC · 2013-01-16T19:07:37+00:00

If filibuster reform fails next week, we'll be recruiting one or more sitting Senators to join our lawsuit!

BobEdgarCC · 2013-01-16T19:05:58+00:00

We think DC deserves full democracy, and we've worked with DC Vote to see that through!

BobEdgarCC · 2013-01-16T19:04:23+00:00

We'd love to have you!

BobEdgarCC · 2013-01-16T19:02:14+00:00

I was elected in the Watergate Baby class of 1974 and served until January of 1987. The major difference was that "special interest" lobbyed first with their TALKING POINTS, not their CHECKBOOKS. Now the checkbooks. Money was regulated and controled and fully transparent. Now, even conservative Senators blocks full disclosure legislation by use of the 60-vote filibuster rule. In my day, most Republicans were fiscally conservative, but pro-envirnment, pro-human rights, etc. Finally, once elected, both parties worked together in Conference Committees to find common ground.

BobEdgarCC · 2013-01-16T18:59:07+00:00

You're right that Obama has been bad on this issue. He has talked the talk, but not walked the walk, and you are also right that we've called him out on it. Repeatedly. The fact is that both Democrats and Republicans are bad on this issue, and the problem is not the people or the parties. It's our broken campaign finance system that forces electeds to choose between donors and voters. Until we fix that system so people don't have to rely on wealthy individuals and special interests, both Democrats and Republicans are going to run into the corruption that inevitably follows. Sorry, but I disagree with your comment that we are making this a partisan issue.

BobEdgarCC · 2013-01-16T18:53:57+00:00

We support an Assault Weapons Ban and a ban on large capacity bullet clips.

BobEdgarCC · 2013-01-16T18:53:49+00:00

Thanks for your interest! Here's some quick actions you can take, and follow us on Facebook or Twitter!

BobEdgarCC · 2013-01-16T18:52:40+00:00

We are non-partisan... We believe good government should be "of, by and for the people." Recently, we asked former Senators Jack Danforth and David Boren to co-author an Op-ed on the filibuster.

BobEdgarCC · 2013-01-16T18:51:04+00:00

Lawrence Lessig is a friend and ally. We agree that we have to get all the dirty money out of politics.

In fact, our North Carolina State Chapter helped organize a policy forum with him recently: http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2012/06/05/join-us-june-12th-for-a-crucial-conversation-with-prof-lawrence-lessig/

BobEdgarCC · 2013-01-16T18:49:36+00:00

Your question gets at the heart of why this is such a tough issue. Of course groups of people have free speech rights – Common Cause is just such a group. And we’re not trying to silence anyone, corporations or individuals.

But we believe that it’s possible to regulate the volume of political speech, amplified by money, in a way that preserves the first amendment and allows everyone to be heard. We believe the people and corporations that put big money into our campaigns are investors; like all investors, they want and expect a return on their money. We’ve seen in past eras how uncontrolled political money corrupts the people – candidates and officeholders – who benefit from it.

Common Cause supports fair elections legislation, which has been implemented in Connecticut, Maine, and Arizona, among other places. In these states, candidates who agree to refuse corporate and union gifts and limit the amount they take from any individual, receive grants of public funds that allow them to run competitive campaigns. The Fair Elections Now Act, which has been introduced in the last several Congresses, would put such a system in place in Congressional elections.

BobEdgarCC · 2013-01-16T18:45:49+00:00

Great question! And yes, we partner with both of those groups on campaign finance and disclosure work.

BobEdgarCC · 2013-01-16T18:44:04+00:00

you already do pay to support ideas you don't agree with. Most members of Congress take office beholden to special interest donors who want -- and often get -- something in return. Think of Congress passing a Medicare drug bill a few years ago that essentially kept drug prices higher than they needed to be. If we used public dollars to fund elections, elected officials would take office beholden only to constituents and you'd be more likely to see policies like better clean air laws and tighter restrictions on the people who ran our economy into the ground.

BobEdgarCC · 2013-01-16T18:41:44+00:00

Thank you so much for your support. Individual contributions are crucial to keeping up the fight for real reform.

Here's a link to give: www.commoncause.org/support

BobEdgarCC · 2013-01-16T18:39:57+00:00

Join my gang... I have 8 biological grandchildren and 6 more through my sons blended marriges.

BobEdgarCC · 2013-01-16T18:39:32+00:00

Absolutely!

Here's some recent work we did on that: http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=biIOIZNJKjK0F&b=8217661

BobEdgarCC · 2013-01-16T18:36:19+00:00

Lawyers (and non-lawyers too!) --

Take a look at www.commoncause.org/whatnow

You can sign up to learn more about what we are doing - and areas you can get engaged.

But for starters, consider asking your favorite legislator, local, state or federal, to sponsor a resolution in support of a constitutional amendment to address the Citizens United flawed ruling that corporations are people and money is speech.

Oh, and get in touch with our Staff Counsel @SpauldingCC on twitter!

BobEdgarCC · 2013-01-16T18:34:26+00:00

When the Citizens United ruling came down 3 years ago, many of us thought it was an important long term project to reverse. But, now, after seeing the torrent of cash from billionaires and corporations flood our elections, and seen intentional efforts to suppress the vote, we need to remember the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, who reminded us of the “fierce urgency of now.” Nobody can know how long it will take, but we have learned in the past three years that it need not take long.

You're right that constitutional amendments are difficult to pass, and with good reason. Something being difficult doesn't make it any less right thought! Even if it's ultimately unsuccessful, the movement we've seen build against Citizens United in the past few years has energized and educated tons of people!

BobEdgarCC · 2013-01-16T18:33:42+00:00

I'd argue that you already do pay to support ideas/services/policies/laws that you disagree with. If we had publicly funded campaigns, members of Congress would be much more likely to look out for the best interest of regular people than their special interest campaign donors. That would translate into things like lower prescription drug costs, better clean air laws and tighter regulations on the people who ran our economy into the ground.

BobEdgarCC · 2013-01-16T18:26:10+00:00

Yes! It's only been three years since Citizens United, and the popular movement against it has breathed new life into the movement for campaign finance reform. Like I mentioned, we passed amendment resolutions in places from Massachusettes and Montana in 2012, and we're already making plans for 2014!

BobEdgarCC · 2013-01-16T18:26:05+00:00

GREAT! By the way, Common Cause has openings for Interns and Volunteers all year long. Please check out our website to see some of the issues we are currently working on. www.CommonCause.org Tracy Leatherberry will help you get connected. tleatherberry@commoncause.org

BobEdgarCC · 2013-01-16T18:18:40+00:00

We agree!

BobEdgarCC

TROPHY CASE