Friend,

A number of issues draw citizen leaders to American Promise—crumbling infrastructure, voting rights, skyrocketing health care costs, and the climate crisis among them. By deciding to act on their concerns and push for democracy reform, these citizen leaders have realized the one root cause behind our policy ills: big money in politics. 

While it’s easy to get discouraged in these divisive political times, it’s also important to celebrate moments of unity and hope. Last Friday an estimated 4 million people joined the Global Climate Strike and its youth-led call to demand policy action on climate change that endangers our planet and its people. 

Next month, democracy reform advocates will gather with American Promise in the Washington, D.C., metro area for the National Citizen Leadership Conference, where they’ll hear from a lineup of inspirational speakers, network with others working to get big money out of politics, and head to Capitol Hill to meet with their representatives in Congress and urge them to support the 28th Amendment. (Click here to register for NCLC and join the action!)

These and other similar democracy-driven events show that we the people are coming together to act, to demand change, and to reclaim the government so it reflects our wishes rather than those of big money. 

As our fellow democracy reform advocate Renaldo Pearson of Democracy911 and RepresentUs said—after walking 700 miles to protest political corruption—at Friday’s climate strike event outside the Capitol in Washington, D.C.: “No matter what your issue, no matter what your sickness, we can’t fix these existential threats until we fix this democracy.”

It’s time to come together and advance the 28th Amendment to get big money out of politics. Join us!

From the Springfield (MO) News-Leader: Two years ago, Missouri voters approved an amendment limiting donations to political campaign committees. But big money continues to flow to campaigns as the 2020 election nears, as the restrictions don’t apply to independent political action committees, or PACs, that support specific candidates. The recipient of a lot of that money is Uniting Missouri, a PAC formed to support Gov. Mike Parson as he runs for a full term as governor. Read more.

From the Conversation: As more Americans interact with others on social media rather than in person, concerns are climbing about the effects of these “echo chambers.” When people on social media interact only with like-minded people, they tend to reinforce each other’s beliefs and they become less willing to cooperate with political opponents. In this article, author Robert B. Talisse extends that to the physical world, where communities, surroundings and lifestyles also can be echo chambers, and examines how that affects our politics and lifestyles. Read more.

From Politico: In an opinion piece, Federal Election Commission Chair Ellen L. Weintraub says the 1976 Supreme Court ruling in Buckley v. Valeo is at the heart of the broken U.S. money-in-politics system and calls for its reversal. “Imagine if we had laws that worked toward a level playing field for candidates, instead of the current legal regime that has given billionaires and corporations outrageously outsized influence in our political system,” she says. “In most other areas of life, we believe fairness requires a level playing field. Why not in funding the mechanisms of democracy?” Read more. 

From Sludge: An analysis of financial data shows that 51 senators and their spouses have as much as $96 million invested in corporate stocks that are part of key sectors they oversee: communications/electronics; defense; energy and natural resources; finance, insurance and real estate; and health. It’s not illegal for members of Congress to have personal financial stakes in the industries on which they legislate, but such investments raise questions about motivations behind their policy decisions. Read more.

October 2, San Francisco, CA: The Bay Area American Promise Association launches its training sessions with a free workshop that will provide tools to engage in the movement to get big money out of politics. Join Bay Area organizers, American Promise Association members, and citizen leaders to learn and build the APA. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. RSVP online.

October 8, Boston, MA: Join Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Hedrick Smith, university professors, and local activists for the premiere of Winning Back our Democracy. Part of the “Power to the People” Bright Lights Film Series, Winning Back Our Democracy shares uplifting stories about successful and underreported citizen reform movements transforming our political system from the ground up across the United States. The film will be followed by a panel discussion. Learn how you can use this film to inspire and mobilize people in your community to enact real legislative change by taking action at the grassroots. 7 p.m., Emerson Paramount Center, Bright Family Screening Room.

October 10, Gainesville, FL: Join citizen leaders in northern Florida for the launch of the Gainesville American Promise Association. The kickoff event will include a free workshop for those interested in becoming grassroots leaders to break the dominance of money in politics, 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m., First Magnitude Brewery Beer Garden. RSVP online.

October 19-21, Arlington, VA: Join us for the third annual National Citizen Leadership Conference. NCLC brings together a cross-partisan group of politicians, democracy reformers, and citizen leaders to advance the 28th Amendment to get big money out of politics. At the end of the conference, attendees have the opportunity to head to Capitol Hill and speak with their elected officials, or their staff, about the 28th Amendment. Register now!

October 30, Tucson, AZ: Grassroots leaders will gather for a free training session to “Get Big Money Out” of politics. The event will include Tucson organizers and American Promise Citizen Empowerment Coordinator Kimberly Clinch, who will cover what the 28th Amendment does and how to talk about it, plus other advocacy tips. 5:45 p.m.-7:45 p.m., Woods Memorial Library, Small Meeting Room. RSVP online.