Huge Victory for our Democracy

by Wes Boyd
February 14, 2002

Dear friend of MoveOn,
Last night's votes on campaign finance reform are a truly historic victory, one that you and other MoveOn members helped make possible.

The House has now joined the Senate in passing the most important curbs on big-money influence-buying in more than 25 years. It has passed the Shays-Meehan bill, banning Soft Money -- an enormous loophole through
which corporations and wealthy individuals have been allowed to give limitless amounts of money to political parties.

Soft Money totaled $450 million in the last election. Enron alone gave out more than $3 million in Soft Money between 1995 and 2001. In return, Enron got lax oversight, hundreds of millions in proposed tax breaks, hand-picked energy regulators, and secret meetings shaping our national energy policy.

Last night's victory will make a huge difference in preventing these kinds of abuses in the future. By cleaning up Soft Money corruption, we are taking a giant step toward putting our democracy back into the hands of everyday people.

This victory belongs to all of us. A year ago, MoveOn members chose campaign finance reform as our #1 issue, using our online discussion forum.* Since then, more than 30,000 MoveOn members have taken part in our "Take Back Democracy" campaign. More than 750 people have sent letters to their newspapers, and more than 14,000 have made phone calls.

Together, we've played a big part in a long, hard-fought campaign. Now the bill is headed for the White House, where President Bush may sign it.

Although Bush's signature is not guaranteed, it is likely. A veto would only remind Americans of his own association with Enron. Of course, we will continue to push for his signature, with your help.

Editor's note: Bush signed the legislation.

This victory is another great example of how we can make a difference by speaking up together for our core values.

If you'd like to help us pay for this important work, please go to:
http://www.moveon.org/support.html

Thanks again for your help, and congratulations.
Sincerely,
- Wes Boyd
MoveOn.org
February 14, 2002

"MoveOn.org provides ordinary people with the information and resources
needed to make their voices heard in the halls of Congress," Senator
John McCain said. "I share their commitment to empowering voters, and I
thank them for their strong support in our effort to take America back
from the special interests. I encourage everyone interested in the
fight to ban soft money to sign MoveOn.org's important online petition."
(March 21, 2001)

* Our reader-rated discussion forum is a great place to share your views on the key issues facing our country:
http://www.actionforum.com/forum/index.html?forum_id=100

Editor's note: Here's another American who is uninformed as to the reality. He actually feels that we have a democracy. How will we ever solve anything with people thinking that way?