STARTS Thursday, August 25, 8:30 am
For all the meeting details: Legislative Committee Detail (wyoleg.gov)
Do you feel your voice doesn’t count? Do you want to get big money out of politics???
You can help change this –here is one action you can do to MAKE A DIFFERENCE in Wyoming ASAP.
The Corporations Committee is meeting this coming Thursday morning, August 25th and will consider some very important bills, and they need to hear from YOU. (Info and talking points at the end of this email.)
Yes to Free and Fair Elections (to get big bucks and dark money out of politics)
Link to bill: https://wyoleg.gov/InterimCommittee/2022/07-2022082523LSO-0132Freeandfairelections.
Yes to Ranked Choice Voting: (would allow all of us to have a voice in our elections) Link to bill: https://wyoleg.gov/InterimCommittee/2022/07-2022082522LSO-0058Elections-rankedchoicevoting.pdf
NO to Runoff Elections (which the right wing of the GOP wants so they can exert more control over our elections AND would require changing the Wy Constitution)
Links to bills: https://wyoleg.gov/InterimCommittee/2022/07-2022082522LSO-0329HJ0003Runoffelections-constitutionalamd.pdf and https://wyoleg.gov/InterimCommittee/2022/07-2022082522LSO-0330HB0074Runoffelections.pdf
Please take one minute and email the members of the Wyoming Corporations Committee NOW.
Reaching out to each of the committee members individually through email and a phone call is the most effective way of making your voice heard. Of course, you may not have the time, so you can send an email to the entire Corporations committee through the Legislative Service Office email: lso@wyoleg.gov
Sample email—and please get a friend in another county to send one too!:
Subject: Yes on Free and Fair Elections and Ranked Choice Voting
Dear Senator (or Representative) specific name:
Thank you for …… (taking the time to read this, serving the Wy Citizens, etc….
Please support the Free and Fair Elections because…..(talking points provided below, but if you carried the petition or have specific reasons/stories include them.)
Sincerely,
Name
CONTACT FOR EACH COMMITTEE MEMBER
Senators:
Brian.Boner@wyoleg.gov Cell – (307) 359-0707 Douglas (sponsoring Runoff Elections Bill which may mean he might oppose ours)
Cale.Case@wyoleg.gov Home – (307) 332-7623 Lander
Ogden.Driskill@wyoleg.gov Cell – (307) 680-5555 Devil’s Tower (Sponsoring Runoff Elections Bill which may mean he might oppose ours)
Tara.Nethercott@wyoleg.govCell – (307) 399-7696 Cheyenne
Charlie Scott doesn’t use email, and has been against our bill every time…but calling him or sending him a post card can make a difference:
Home – (307) 473-2512 13900 State Highway 487 Casper, WY 82604
Representatives:
dan.zwonitzer@wyoleg.gov Cell – (307) 214-7826 Cheyenne
Jim.Blackburn@wyoleg.gov Home – (307) 514-4318 Cheyenne
Marshall.Burt@wyoleg.gov Cell – (307) 707-2878 Green River
Aaron.Clausen@wyoleg.gov Cell – (307) 351-3664 Douglas
Shelly.Duncan@wyoleg.gov Work – (307) 575-2894 Lingle
Danny.Eyre@wyoleg.gov Cell – (307) 782-6376 Lyman
Andrea.LeBeau@wyoleg.gov Cell – (307) 349-6703 Riverton
Joe.MacGuire@wyoleg.gov Cell – (307) 333-3653 Casper
Jim.Roscoe@wyoleg.gov Cell – (307) 730-5389 Wilson
Call, email, text, show up via zoom or in person to support it! Here is the link to learn more: https://wyoleg.gov/Calendar/20220801/Meeting
Info on Ranked Choice Voting:
Quick video: https://www.fairvote.org/rcv#how_rcv_works
Article by a speaker to Braver Angels: https://dailymontanan.com/2021/10/17/want-better-government-change-how-elections-are-run-in-montana/
Talking points for Free and Fair Elections
What is the problem with ?
-Our voices are drowned out by obscene amounts of (often anonymous) money that influence policy at every level.
-Lawmakers spend too much time fundraising instead of working for us.
-Our taxes increase to pay for special projects pushed by big donors.
-The problems that face our nation go unsolved, and people become more and disenfranchised.
How can we begin to solve it?
Help to limit the political spending of non-human entities by supporting the Free and Fair Elections which calls on Congress to pass a 28th Amendment to the Constitution.
Why a constitutional amendment?
-A century of campaign reform was overturned by Supreme Court rulings (including Citizens United vs FEC) that defined money as speech and corporations (including 501c 3 groups and unions) as having the same Constitutional rights as people.
-This action has prohibited states from setting limits on outside money influencing elections.
-These rulings can only be overturned by a constitutional amendment.
Wyoming’s constitution has it right: “In their inherent right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, all members of the human race are equal.” ( –NOT corporations and special interest groups.)
Are we alone? No! 19 other states have approved similar action.
More background: Prior to the Supreme Court decision, Citizens United vs FEC, political spending was regulated by the bipartisan McCain-Feingold Act. One provision of the Act was to prohibit “electioneering communications,” from being paid for by a corporation or issue group. The 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court decision lifted that restriction, opening the door for unfettered spending by multinational corporations, unions and by wealthy donors to 501 C 4 groups who are not required to reveal their donors.
-Wy citizen volunteers gathered 17,000 signatures in 2017 to try and get this on the ballot, and have been lobbying for this ever since