My Letter to Congress: S.1285 Fair Elections Now Act 
Contact Congress
This letter was sent by OpenCongress user
coolcid101
on
January 21, 2012
in support of
S.1285 Fair Elections Now Act.
Privacy setting:
PUBLIC
To:
-
Sen. Jeff Merkley [D, OR] Vote on Passage of S.1285: Not Voted Yet -
Sen. Ron Wyden [D, OR] Vote on Passage of S.1285: Not Voted Yet
S.1285 Fair Elections Now Act
I am writing as your constituent in the 3rd Congressional district of Oregon. I support S.1285 - Fair Elections Now Act, and I will not vote for Senator Merkley or Senator Wyden unless they take steps toward Campaign Finance Reform.
Sincerely,
Spencer Swearingen
Sincerely,
Spencer Swearingen
This letter was a reply from the office of Sen. Ron Wyden [D, OR] on February 03, 2012.
Response from Senator Ron Wyden to your e-mail
This is a Mulit Part MIME message. Your mail client does not support MIME or you have disabled this feature. This is a plain text version of the content.
Dear Mr. Swearingen:
Thank you for contacting me about the United States Supreme Court's recent decision involving federal campaign finance laws. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.
As you may know, the right-wing organization Citizens United sued the government in 2008 over specific provisions of federal elections law. In January 2010, the Supreme Court held, 5-4, that corporations and labor unions have a First Amendment right to make unlimited expenditures for political candidates at any point during a campaign. This controversial decision set aside longstanding laws and precedent limiting the role of corporate money in federal elections. In the wake of this verdict, many people have raised concerns that well-funded special interests will play an increasingly significant role in our political process.
I have great respect for the Supreme Court, but I am deeply disappointed that it overturned several precedents and laws designed to stem government corruption. I am not the only member of Congress to hold such views, and in April 2010, I joined with Senator Chuck Schumer, Representative Chris Van Hollen, and others to introduce the Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act, S. 3295. This legislation would address many issues raised by the Supreme Court ruling by, for example, helping to prevent foreign influence in U.S. elections, enhancing disclosure requirements for political spending, and stopping corporations from coordinating with political parties and candidates. I am particularly pleased that our bill would expand my Stand by Your Ad law to prevent corporations from hiding behind fake organizations when purchasing political ads. As your Senator, please know that I will continue fighting to ensure elections are about the candidates and the issues, not money and special interests.
Again, thank you for keeping me apprised of the issues that are important to you. If I can be of any further assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Dear Mr. Swearingen:
Thank you for contacting me about the United States Supreme Court's recent decision involving federal campaign finance laws. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.
As you may know, the right-wing organization Citizens United sued the government in 2008 over specific provisions of federal elections law. In January 2010, the Supreme Court held, 5-4, that corporations and labor unions have a First Amendment right to make unlimited expenditures for political candidates at any point during a campaign. This controversial decision set aside longstanding laws and precedent limiting the role of corporate money in federal elections. In the wake of this verdict, many people have raised concerns that well-funded special interests will play an increasingly significant role in our political process.
I have great respect for the Supreme Court, but I am deeply disappointed that it overturned several precedents and laws designed to stem government corruption. I am not the only member of Congress to hold such views, and in April 2010, I joined with Senator Chuck Schumer, Representative Chris Van Hollen, and others to introduce the Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act, S. 3295. This legislation would address many issues raised by the Supreme Court ruling by, for example, helping to prevent foreign influence in U.S. elections, enhancing disclosure requirements for political spending, and stopping corporations from coordinating with political parties and candidates. I am particularly pleased that our bill would expand my Stand by Your Ad law to prevent corporations from hiding behind fake organizations when purchasing political ads. As your Senator, please know that I will continue fighting to ensure elections are about the candidates and the issues, not money and special interests.
Again, thank you for keeping me apprised of the issues that are important to you. If I can be of any further assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact me.
This letter was a reply from the office of Sen. Jeff Merkley [D, OR] on February 09, 2012.
Responding to your message
Oregon's Senator Jeff
Merkley
Dear Spencer,
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for stronger
regulation of campaign finances. I appreciate hearing from you on this
issue.
Like you, I strongly disagreed with the Supreme Court majority that
decided in Citizens United vs. F.E.C. to reverse long-standing
precedent and effectively allow unlimited corporate spending on
campaign ads. Moreover, this ruling allows spending by foreign
corporations and permits the spending to be completely secret. This
constitutes a fundamental attack on "government of the people, by the
people and for the people," as President Lincoln so eloquently
described American democracy. Our democracy cannot function well when
the voices of everyday citizens are drowned out by corporations and
special interests.
You may be interested to know that on November 1, 2011, I joined six of
my colleagues in co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment that would
give Congress the authority to regulate campaign finances. Such an
amendment would make absolutely clear that Congress has the power to
limit or ban corporate spending on election campaigns. In the wake of
the Citizens United ruling, it is essential that we do everything we
can to prevent corporate spending from taking control of our democratic
process.
Thank you, again, for your input. I hope you will continue sending your
views and ideas my way.
All my best,
Jeffrey A. Merkley
United States Senator
Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Please note that any reply to this
email address will be sent to an unmonitored email address. To contact
me, please visit the contact page on my website
ley.senate.gov%2fcontact%2f> .
Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley> Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley>
YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley> YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley>
E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f> E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f>
Merkley
Dear Spencer,
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for stronger
regulation of campaign finances. I appreciate hearing from you on this
issue.
Like you, I strongly disagreed with the Supreme Court majority that
decided in Citizens United vs. F.E.C. to reverse long-standing
precedent and effectively allow unlimited corporate spending on
campaign ads. Moreover, this ruling allows spending by foreign
corporations and permits the spending to be completely secret. This
constitutes a fundamental attack on "government of the people, by the
people and for the people," as President Lincoln so eloquently
described American democracy. Our democracy cannot function well when
the voices of everyday citizens are drowned out by corporations and
special interests.
You may be interested to know that on November 1, 2011, I joined six of
my colleagues in co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment that would
give Congress the authority to regulate campaign finances. Such an
amendment would make absolutely clear that Congress has the power to
limit or ban corporate spending on election campaigns. In the wake of
the Citizens United ruling, it is essential that we do everything we
can to prevent corporate spending from taking control of our democratic
process.
Thank you, again, for your input. I hope you will continue sending your
views and ideas my way.
All my best,
Jeffrey A. Merkley
United States Senator
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Please note that any reply to this
email address will be sent to an unmonitored email address. To contact
me, please visit the contact page on my website
ley.senate.gov%2fcontact%2f> .
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley> Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley>
YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley> YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley>
E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f> E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f>
This letter was a reply from the office of Sen. Jeff Merkley [D, OR] on February 09, 2012.
Responding to your message
Oregon's Senator Jeff
Merkley
Dear Spencer,
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for stronger
regulation of campaign finances. I appreciate hearing from you on this
issue.
Like you, I strongly disagreed with the Supreme Court majority that
decided in Citizens United vs. F.E.C. to reverse long-standing
precedent and effectively allow unlimited corporate spending on
campaign ads. Moreover, this ruling allows spending by foreign
corporations and permits the spending to be completely secret. This
constitutes a fundamental attack on "government of the people, by the
people and for the people," as President Lincoln so eloquently
described American democracy. Our democracy cannot function well when
the voices of everyday citizens are drowned out by corporations and
special interests.
You may be interested to know that on November 1, 2011, I joined six of
my colleagues in co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment that would
give Congress the authority to regulate campaign finances. Such an
amendment would make absolutely clear that Congress has the power to
limit or ban corporate spending on election campaigns. In the wake of
the Citizens United ruling, it is essential that we do everything we
can to prevent corporate spending from taking control of our democratic
process.
Thank you, again, for your input. I hope you will continue sending your
views and ideas my way.
All my best,
Jeffrey A. Merkley
United States Senator
Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Please note that any reply to this
email address will be sent to an unmonitored email address. To contact
me, please visit the contact page on my website
ley.senate.gov%2fcontact%2f> .
Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley> Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley>
YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley> YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley>
E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f> E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f>
Merkley
Dear Spencer,
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for stronger
regulation of campaign finances. I appreciate hearing from you on this
issue.
Like you, I strongly disagreed with the Supreme Court majority that
decided in Citizens United vs. F.E.C. to reverse long-standing
precedent and effectively allow unlimited corporate spending on
campaign ads. Moreover, this ruling allows spending by foreign
corporations and permits the spending to be completely secret. This
constitutes a fundamental attack on "government of the people, by the
people and for the people," as President Lincoln so eloquently
described American democracy. Our democracy cannot function well when
the voices of everyday citizens are drowned out by corporations and
special interests.
You may be interested to know that on November 1, 2011, I joined six of
my colleagues in co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment that would
give Congress the authority to regulate campaign finances. Such an
amendment would make absolutely clear that Congress has the power to
limit or ban corporate spending on election campaigns. In the wake of
the Citizens United ruling, it is essential that we do everything we
can to prevent corporate spending from taking control of our democratic
process.
Thank you, again, for your input. I hope you will continue sending your
views and ideas my way.
All my best,
Jeffrey A. Merkley
United States Senator
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Please note that any reply to this
email address will be sent to an unmonitored email address. To contact
me, please visit the contact page on my website
ley.senate.gov%2fcontact%2f> .
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley> Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley>
YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley> YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley>
E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f> E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f>
This letter was a reply from the office of Sen. Jeff Merkley [D, OR] on February 09, 2012.
Responding to your message
Oregon's Senator Jeff
Merkley
Dear Spencer,
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for stronger
regulation of campaign finances. I appreciate hearing from you on this
issue.
Like you, I strongly disagreed with the Supreme Court majority that
decided in Citizens United vs. F.E.C. to reverse long-standing
precedent and effectively allow unlimited corporate spending on
campaign ads. Moreover, this ruling allows spending by foreign
corporations and permits the spending to be completely secret. This
constitutes a fundamental attack on "government of the people, by the
people and for the people," as President Lincoln so eloquently
described American democracy. Our democracy cannot function well when
the voices of everyday citizens are drowned out by corporations and
special interests.
You may be interested to know that on November 1, 2011, I joined six of
my colleagues in co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment that would
give Congress the authority to regulate campaign finances. Such an
amendment would make absolutely clear that Congress has the power to
limit or ban corporate spending on election campaigns. In the wake of
the Citizens United ruling, it is essential that we do everything we
can to prevent corporate spending from taking control of our democratic
process.
Thank you, again, for your input. I hope you will continue sending your
views and ideas my way.
All my best,
Jeffrey A. Merkley
United States Senator
Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Please note that any reply to this
email address will be sent to an unmonitored email address. To contact
me, please visit the contact page on my website
ley.senate.gov%2fcontact%2f> .
Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley> Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley>
YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley> YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley>
E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f> E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f>
Merkley
Dear Spencer,
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for stronger
regulation of campaign finances. I appreciate hearing from you on this
issue.
Like you, I strongly disagreed with the Supreme Court majority that
decided in Citizens United vs. F.E.C. to reverse long-standing
precedent and effectively allow unlimited corporate spending on
campaign ads. Moreover, this ruling allows spending by foreign
corporations and permits the spending to be completely secret. This
constitutes a fundamental attack on "government of the people, by the
people and for the people," as President Lincoln so eloquently
described American democracy. Our democracy cannot function well when
the voices of everyday citizens are drowned out by corporations and
special interests.
You may be interested to know that on November 1, 2011, I joined six of
my colleagues in co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment that would
give Congress the authority to regulate campaign finances. Such an
amendment would make absolutely clear that Congress has the power to
limit or ban corporate spending on election campaigns. In the wake of
the Citizens United ruling, it is essential that we do everything we
can to prevent corporate spending from taking control of our democratic
process.
Thank you, again, for your input. I hope you will continue sending your
views and ideas my way.
All my best,
Jeffrey A. Merkley
United States Senator
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Please note that any reply to this
email address will be sent to an unmonitored email address. To contact
me, please visit the contact page on my website
ley.senate.gov%2fcontact%2f> .
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley> Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley>
YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley> YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley>
E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f> E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f>
This letter was a reply from the office of Sen. Jeff Merkley [D, OR] on February 09, 2012.
Responding to your message
Oregon's Senator Jeff
Merkley
Dear Spencer,
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for stronger
regulation of campaign finances. I appreciate hearing from you on this
issue.
Like you, I strongly disagreed with the Supreme Court majority that
decided in Citizens United vs. F.E.C. to reverse long-standing
precedent and effectively allow unlimited corporate spending on
campaign ads. Moreover, this ruling allows spending by foreign
corporations and permits the spending to be completely secret. This
constitutes a fundamental attack on "government of the people, by the
people and for the people," as President Lincoln so eloquently
described American democracy. Our democracy cannot function well when
the voices of everyday citizens are drowned out by corporations and
special interests.
You may be interested to know that on November 1, 2011, I joined six of
my colleagues in co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment that would
give Congress the authority to regulate campaign finances. Such an
amendment would make absolutely clear that Congress has the power to
limit or ban corporate spending on election campaigns. In the wake of
the Citizens United ruling, it is essential that we do everything we
can to prevent corporate spending from taking control of our democratic
process.
Thank you, again, for your input. I hope you will continue sending your
views and ideas my way.
All my best,
Jeffrey A. Merkley
United States Senator
Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Please note that any reply to this
email address will be sent to an unmonitored email address. To contact
me, please visit the contact page on my website
ley.senate.gov%2fcontact%2f> .
Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley> Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley>
YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley> YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley>
E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f> E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f>
Merkley
Dear Spencer,
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for stronger
regulation of campaign finances. I appreciate hearing from you on this
issue.
Like you, I strongly disagreed with the Supreme Court majority that
decided in Citizens United vs. F.E.C. to reverse long-standing
precedent and effectively allow unlimited corporate spending on
campaign ads. Moreover, this ruling allows spending by foreign
corporations and permits the spending to be completely secret. This
constitutes a fundamental attack on "government of the people, by the
people and for the people," as President Lincoln so eloquently
described American democracy. Our democracy cannot function well when
the voices of everyday citizens are drowned out by corporations and
special interests.
You may be interested to know that on November 1, 2011, I joined six of
my colleagues in co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment that would
give Congress the authority to regulate campaign finances. Such an
amendment would make absolutely clear that Congress has the power to
limit or ban corporate spending on election campaigns. In the wake of
the Citizens United ruling, it is essential that we do everything we
can to prevent corporate spending from taking control of our democratic
process.
Thank you, again, for your input. I hope you will continue sending your
views and ideas my way.
All my best,
Jeffrey A. Merkley
United States Senator
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Please note that any reply to this
email address will be sent to an unmonitored email address. To contact
me, please visit the contact page on my website
ley.senate.gov%2fcontact%2f> .
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley> Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley>
YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley> YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley>
E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f> E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f>
This letter was a reply from the office of Sen. Jeff Merkley [D, OR] on February 09, 2012.
Responding to your message
Oregon's Senator Jeff
Merkley
Dear Spencer,
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for stronger
regulation of campaign finances. I appreciate hearing from you on this
issue.
Like you, I strongly disagreed with the Supreme Court majority that
decided in Citizens United vs. F.E.C. to reverse long-standing
precedent and effectively allow unlimited corporate spending on
campaign ads. Moreover, this ruling allows spending by foreign
corporations and permits the spending to be completely secret. This
constitutes a fundamental attack on "government of the people, by the
people and for the people," as President Lincoln so eloquently
described American democracy. Our democracy cannot function well when
the voices of everyday citizens are drowned out by corporations and
special interests.
You may be interested to know that on November 1, 2011, I joined six of
my colleagues in co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment that would
give Congress the authority to regulate campaign finances. Such an
amendment would make absolutely clear that Congress has the power to
limit or ban corporate spending on election campaigns. In the wake of
the Citizens United ruling, it is essential that we do everything we
can to prevent corporate spending from taking control of our democratic
process.
Thank you, again, for your input. I hope you will continue sending your
views and ideas my way.
All my best,
Jeffrey A. Merkley
United States Senator
Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Please note that any reply to this
email address will be sent to an unmonitored email address. To contact
me, please visit the contact page on my website
ley.senate.gov%2fcontact%2f> .
Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley> Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley>
YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley> YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley>
E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f> E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f>
Merkley
Dear Spencer,
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for stronger
regulation of campaign finances. I appreciate hearing from you on this
issue.
Like you, I strongly disagreed with the Supreme Court majority that
decided in Citizens United vs. F.E.C. to reverse long-standing
precedent and effectively allow unlimited corporate spending on
campaign ads. Moreover, this ruling allows spending by foreign
corporations and permits the spending to be completely secret. This
constitutes a fundamental attack on "government of the people, by the
people and for the people," as President Lincoln so eloquently
described American democracy. Our democracy cannot function well when
the voices of everyday citizens are drowned out by corporations and
special interests.
You may be interested to know that on November 1, 2011, I joined six of
my colleagues in co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment that would
give Congress the authority to regulate campaign finances. Such an
amendment would make absolutely clear that Congress has the power to
limit or ban corporate spending on election campaigns. In the wake of
the Citizens United ruling, it is essential that we do everything we
can to prevent corporate spending from taking control of our democratic
process.
Thank you, again, for your input. I hope you will continue sending your
views and ideas my way.
All my best,
Jeffrey A. Merkley
United States Senator
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Please note that any reply to this
email address will be sent to an unmonitored email address. To contact
me, please visit the contact page on my website
ley.senate.gov%2fcontact%2f> .
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley> Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley>
YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley> YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley>
E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f> E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f>
This letter was a reply from the office of Sen. Jeff Merkley [D, OR] on February 09, 2012.
Responding to your message
Oregon's Senator Jeff
Merkley
Dear Spencer,
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for stronger
regulation of campaign finances. I appreciate hearing from you on this
issue.
Like you, I strongly disagreed with the Supreme Court majority that
decided in Citizens United vs. F.E.C. to reverse long-standing
precedent and effectively allow unlimited corporate spending on
campaign ads. Moreover, this ruling allows spending by foreign
corporations and permits the spending to be completely secret. This
constitutes a fundamental attack on "government of the people, by the
people and for the people," as President Lincoln so eloquently
described American democracy. Our democracy cannot function well when
the voices of everyday citizens are drowned out by corporations and
special interests.
You may be interested to know that on November 1, 2011, I joined six of
my colleagues in co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment that would
give Congress the authority to regulate campaign finances. Such an
amendment would make absolutely clear that Congress has the power to
limit or ban corporate spending on election campaigns. In the wake of
the Citizens United ruling, it is essential that we do everything we
can to prevent corporate spending from taking control of our democratic
process.
Thank you, again, for your input. I hope you will continue sending your
views and ideas my way.
All my best,
Jeffrey A. Merkley
United States Senator
Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Please note that any reply to this
email address will be sent to an unmonitored email address. To contact
me, please visit the contact page on my website
ley.senate.gov%2fcontact%2f> .
Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley> Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley>
YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley> YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley>
E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f> E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f>
Merkley
Dear Spencer,
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for stronger
regulation of campaign finances. I appreciate hearing from you on this
issue.
Like you, I strongly disagreed with the Supreme Court majority that
decided in Citizens United vs. F.E.C. to reverse long-standing
precedent and effectively allow unlimited corporate spending on
campaign ads. Moreover, this ruling allows spending by foreign
corporations and permits the spending to be completely secret. This
constitutes a fundamental attack on "government of the people, by the
people and for the people," as President Lincoln so eloquently
described American democracy. Our democracy cannot function well when
the voices of everyday citizens are drowned out by corporations and
special interests.
You may be interested to know that on November 1, 2011, I joined six of
my colleagues in co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment that would
give Congress the authority to regulate campaign finances. Such an
amendment would make absolutely clear that Congress has the power to
limit or ban corporate spending on election campaigns. In the wake of
the Citizens United ruling, it is essential that we do everything we
can to prevent corporate spending from taking control of our democratic
process.
Thank you, again, for your input. I hope you will continue sending your
views and ideas my way.
All my best,
Jeffrey A. Merkley
United States Senator
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Please note that any reply to this
email address will be sent to an unmonitored email address. To contact
me, please visit the contact page on my website
ley.senate.gov%2fcontact%2f> .
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley> Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley>
YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley> YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley>
E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f> E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f>
This letter was a reply from the office of Sen. Jeff Merkley [D, OR] on February 09, 2012.
Responding to your message
Oregon's Senator Jeff
Merkley
Dear Spencer,
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for stronger
regulation of campaign finances. I appreciate hearing from you on this
issue.
Like you, I strongly disagreed with the Supreme Court majority that
decided in Citizens United vs. F.E.C. to reverse long-standing
precedent and effectively allow unlimited corporate spending on
campaign ads. Moreover, this ruling allows spending by foreign
corporations and permits the spending to be completely secret. This
constitutes a fundamental attack on "government of the people, by the
people and for the people," as President Lincoln so eloquently
described American democracy. Our democracy cannot function well when
the voices of everyday citizens are drowned out by corporations and
special interests.
You may be interested to know that on November 1, 2011, I joined six of
my colleagues in co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment that would
give Congress the authority to regulate campaign finances. Such an
amendment would make absolutely clear that Congress has the power to
limit or ban corporate spending on election campaigns. In the wake of
the Citizens United ruling, it is essential that we do everything we
can to prevent corporate spending from taking control of our democratic
process.
Thank you, again, for your input. I hope you will continue sending your
views and ideas my way.
All my best,
Jeffrey A. Merkley
United States Senator
Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Please note that any reply to this
email address will be sent to an unmonitored email address. To contact
me, please visit the contact page on my website
ley.senate.gov%2fcontact%2f> .
Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley> Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley>
YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley> YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley>
E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f> E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f>
Merkley
Dear Spencer,
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for stronger
regulation of campaign finances. I appreciate hearing from you on this
issue.
Like you, I strongly disagreed with the Supreme Court majority that
decided in Citizens United vs. F.E.C. to reverse long-standing
precedent and effectively allow unlimited corporate spending on
campaign ads. Moreover, this ruling allows spending by foreign
corporations and permits the spending to be completely secret. This
constitutes a fundamental attack on "government of the people, by the
people and for the people," as President Lincoln so eloquently
described American democracy. Our democracy cannot function well when
the voices of everyday citizens are drowned out by corporations and
special interests.
You may be interested to know that on November 1, 2011, I joined six of
my colleagues in co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment that would
give Congress the authority to regulate campaign finances. Such an
amendment would make absolutely clear that Congress has the power to
limit or ban corporate spending on election campaigns. In the wake of
the Citizens United ruling, it is essential that we do everything we
can to prevent corporate spending from taking control of our democratic
process.
Thank you, again, for your input. I hope you will continue sending your
views and ideas my way.
All my best,
Jeffrey A. Merkley
United States Senator
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Please note that any reply to this
email address will be sent to an unmonitored email address. To contact
me, please visit the contact page on my website
ley.senate.gov%2fcontact%2f> .
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley> Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley>
YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley> YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley>
E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f> E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f>
This letter was a reply from the office of Sen. Jeff Merkley [D, OR] on February 09, 2012.
Responding to your message
Oregon's Senator Jeff
Merkley
Dear Spencer,
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for stronger
regulation of campaign finances. I appreciate hearing from you on this
issue.
Like you, I strongly disagreed with the Supreme Court majority that
decided in Citizens United vs. F.E.C. to reverse long-standing
precedent and effectively allow unlimited corporate spending on
campaign ads. Moreover, this ruling allows spending by foreign
corporations and permits the spending to be completely secret. This
constitutes a fundamental attack on "government of the people, by the
people and for the people," as President Lincoln so eloquently
described American democracy. Our democracy cannot function well when
the voices of everyday citizens are drowned out by corporations and
special interests.
You may be interested to know that on November 1, 2011, I joined six of
my colleagues in co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment that would
give Congress the authority to regulate campaign finances. Such an
amendment would make absolutely clear that Congress has the power to
limit or ban corporate spending on election campaigns. In the wake of
the Citizens United ruling, it is essential that we do everything we
can to prevent corporate spending from taking control of our democratic
process.
Thank you, again, for your input. I hope you will continue sending your
views and ideas my way.
All my best,
Jeffrey A. Merkley
United States Senator
Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Please note that any reply to this
email address will be sent to an unmonitored email address. To contact
me, please visit the contact page on my website
ley.senate.gov%2fcontact%2f> .
Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley> Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley>
YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley> YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley>
E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f> E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f>
Merkley
Dear Spencer,
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for stronger
regulation of campaign finances. I appreciate hearing from you on this
issue.
Like you, I strongly disagreed with the Supreme Court majority that
decided in Citizens United vs. F.E.C. to reverse long-standing
precedent and effectively allow unlimited corporate spending on
campaign ads. Moreover, this ruling allows spending by foreign
corporations and permits the spending to be completely secret. This
constitutes a fundamental attack on "government of the people, by the
people and for the people," as President Lincoln so eloquently
described American democracy. Our democracy cannot function well when
the voices of everyday citizens are drowned out by corporations and
special interests.
You may be interested to know that on November 1, 2011, I joined six of
my colleagues in co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment that would
give Congress the authority to regulate campaign finances. Such an
amendment would make absolutely clear that Congress has the power to
limit or ban corporate spending on election campaigns. In the wake of
the Citizens United ruling, it is essential that we do everything we
can to prevent corporate spending from taking control of our democratic
process.
Thank you, again, for your input. I hope you will continue sending your
views and ideas my way.
All my best,
Jeffrey A. Merkley
United States Senator
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Please note that any reply to this
email address will be sent to an unmonitored email address. To contact
me, please visit the contact page on my website
ley.senate.gov%2fcontact%2f> .
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley> Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley>
YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley> YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley>
E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f> E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f>
This letter was a reply from the office of Sen. Jeff Merkley [D, OR] on February 09, 2012.
Responding to your message
Oregon's Senator Jeff
Merkley
Dear Spencer,
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for stronger
regulation of campaign finances. I appreciate hearing from you on this
issue.
Like you, I strongly disagreed with the Supreme Court majority that
decided in Citizens United vs. F.E.C. to reverse long-standing
precedent and effectively allow unlimited corporate spending on
campaign ads. Moreover, this ruling allows spending by foreign
corporations and permits the spending to be completely secret. This
constitutes a fundamental attack on "government of the people, by the
people and for the people," as President Lincoln so eloquently
described American democracy. Our democracy cannot function well when
the voices of everyday citizens are drowned out by corporations and
special interests.
You may be interested to know that on November 1, 2011, I joined six of
my colleagues in co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment that would
give Congress the authority to regulate campaign finances. Such an
amendment would make absolutely clear that Congress has the power to
limit or ban corporate spending on election campaigns. In the wake of
the Citizens United ruling, it is essential that we do everything we
can to prevent corporate spending from taking control of our democratic
process.
Thank you, again, for your input. I hope you will continue sending your
views and ideas my way.
All my best,
Jeffrey A. Merkley
United States Senator
Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Please note that any reply to this
email address will be sent to an unmonitored email address. To contact
me, please visit the contact page on my website
ley.senate.gov%2fcontact%2f> .
Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley> Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley>
YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley> YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley>
E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f> E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f>
Merkley
Dear Spencer,
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for stronger
regulation of campaign finances. I appreciate hearing from you on this
issue.
Like you, I strongly disagreed with the Supreme Court majority that
decided in Citizens United vs. F.E.C. to reverse long-standing
precedent and effectively allow unlimited corporate spending on
campaign ads. Moreover, this ruling allows spending by foreign
corporations and permits the spending to be completely secret. This
constitutes a fundamental attack on "government of the people, by the
people and for the people," as President Lincoln so eloquently
described American democracy. Our democracy cannot function well when
the voices of everyday citizens are drowned out by corporations and
special interests.
You may be interested to know that on November 1, 2011, I joined six of
my colleagues in co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment that would
give Congress the authority to regulate campaign finances. Such an
amendment would make absolutely clear that Congress has the power to
limit or ban corporate spending on election campaigns. In the wake of
the Citizens United ruling, it is essential that we do everything we
can to prevent corporate spending from taking control of our democratic
process.
Thank you, again, for your input. I hope you will continue sending your
views and ideas my way.
All my best,
Jeffrey A. Merkley
United States Senator
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Please note that any reply to this
email address will be sent to an unmonitored email address. To contact
me, please visit the contact page on my website
ley.senate.gov%2fcontact%2f> .
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley> Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley>
YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley> YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley>
E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f> E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f>
This letter was a reply from the office of Sen. Jeff Merkley [D, OR] on February 09, 2012.
Responding to your message
Oregon's Senator Jeff
Merkley
Dear Spencer,
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for stronger
regulation of campaign finances. I appreciate hearing from you on this
issue.
Like you, I strongly disagreed with the Supreme Court majority that
decided in Citizens United vs. F.E.C. to reverse long-standing
precedent and effectively allow unlimited corporate spending on
campaign ads. Moreover, this ruling allows spending by foreign
corporations and permits the spending to be completely secret. This
constitutes a fundamental attack on "government of the people, by the
people and for the people," as President Lincoln so eloquently
described American democracy. Our democracy cannot function well when
the voices of everyday citizens are drowned out by corporations and
special interests.
You may be interested to know that on November 1, 2011, I joined six of
my colleagues in co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment that would
give Congress the authority to regulate campaign finances. Such an
amendment would make absolutely clear that Congress has the power to
limit or ban corporate spending on election campaigns. In the wake of
the Citizens United ruling, it is essential that we do everything we
can to prevent corporate spending from taking control of our democratic
process.
Thank you, again, for your input. I hope you will continue sending your
views and ideas my way.
All my best,
Jeffrey A. Merkley
United States Senator
Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Please note that any reply to this
email address will be sent to an unmonitored email address. To contact
me, please visit the contact page on my website
ley.senate.gov%2fcontact%2f> .
Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley> Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley>
YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley> YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley>
E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f> E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f>
Merkley
Dear Spencer,
Thank you for contacting me to express your support for stronger
regulation of campaign finances. I appreciate hearing from you on this
issue.
Like you, I strongly disagreed with the Supreme Court majority that
decided in Citizens United vs. F.E.C. to reverse long-standing
precedent and effectively allow unlimited corporate spending on
campaign ads. Moreover, this ruling allows spending by foreign
corporations and permits the spending to be completely secret. This
constitutes a fundamental attack on "government of the people, by the
people and for the people," as President Lincoln so eloquently
described American democracy. Our democracy cannot function well when
the voices of everyday citizens are drowned out by corporations and
special interests.
You may be interested to know that on November 1, 2011, I joined six of
my colleagues in co-sponsoring a constitutional amendment that would
give Congress the authority to regulate campaign finances. Such an
amendment would make absolutely clear that Congress has the power to
limit or ban corporate spending on election campaigns. In the wake of
the Citizens United ruling, it is essential that we do everything we
can to prevent corporate spending from taking control of our democratic
process.
Thank you, again, for your input. I hope you will continue sending your
views and ideas my way.
All my best,
Jeffrey A. Merkley
United States Senator
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Facebook
facebook.com%2fjeffmerkley> Please note that any reply to this
email address will be sent to an unmonitored email address. To contact
me, please visit the contact page on my website
ley.senate.gov%2fcontact%2f> .
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley> Twitter
ter.com%2fSenJeffMerkley>
YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley> YouTube
youtube.com%2fuser%2fSenatorJeffMerkley>
E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f> E-newsletter
ley.senate.gov%2fnewsletter%2f>
Note to Congressional staff & elected officials reading this: this letter was sent through Contact-Congress features on OpenCongress.org, a free public resource website, but in the future we seek to compel the U.S. Congress to adopt fully open technology for constituent communications. For more information how your office can better handle public feedback through an open API and open standards, contact us -- even today, there are significantly more efficient and responsive ways for our elected officials to receive email feedback than the status quo of individual webforms. For greater public accountability in government, we must make the process of writing one's members of Congress more accessible and empowering. Looking ahead, we will release more data from Contact-Congress letters and Congressional response rates back into the public commons. This will result in a new open data source on bills & issues people care about, as well as encourage best practices in constituent communications and make it possible to grade members of Congress on their responsiveness & citizen satisfaction.
Share this letter with your friends and followers!
Comment on this letter below