| Excited. Honored. Ready to be part of something historic.
Those are just some of my feelings as the newest member of Public Citizen’s “Democracy Is For People” campaign team.
My name is Mark Hays. I’ll be coordinating the next phase of our work to win a constitutional amendment to reverse the effects of the Supreme Court’s absurd and disastrous Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling.
I’m writing to introduce myself and give you a preview of the work we’ll be doing to build the movement to reclaim democracy for We the People.
For the past few years, I’ve worked with activists across the country and around the world to challenge corporate power and political influence.
I’ve seen corporate lobbyists walk into town halls, state capitols and the corridors of Congress and then walk out with millions or billions of dollars in tax breaks and bailouts — and barely a slap on the wrist for egregious conduct that threatens our health and safety, our livelihoods, our economy, and our planet.
I’ve joined Public Citizen for the same reason you’ve contributed your activism and dollars: Our democracy is on the line, and we have to do something about it.
You and I know how urgently we need to challenge this inhuman state of affairs. But we need more people to join us.
We need to show people that while reversing Citizens United v. FEC and restoring our rights is a big challenge, it is a challenge we can and must meet.
We’re already off to a great start. Since the Supreme Court’s fateful ruling a year and half ago, Public Citizen, our coalitions and millions of people have sprung into action.
Hundreds of thousands of people have signed petitions for a constitutional amendment. Demonstrations and actions, led by Public Citizen members and supporters, have been held in over 50 cities and towns across the country. Hundreds of you have invited friends and neighbors into your homes, churches and community centers to educate and engage each other.
And, with your support, Public Citizen has exposed the devastating impact of Citizens United v. FEC through hard-hitting investigative research and reports, garnering substantial media attention.
There’s more in store.
Community activists and organizations across the country are gearing up to pass resolutions at the state and local level calling for a constitutional amendment.
We’ll be partnering with them, providing materials, resources and help with turnout to important events. We’ll be asking some of you to introduce resolutions as well. We’ll be working with activists to bring this campaign to street corners, farmers’ markets, parks and public squares in your town and across the country.
Local, regional and national organizations working to protect workers, our health and the environment are deeply concerned about the huge influx of corporate money into our political system and stand ready to join us.
We’ll be reaching out to local, state and national organizations to build a broad and deep base of support for a constitutional amendment to reverse Citizens United v. FEC.
Elected officials who truly understand this threat are willing to stand up and help us protect our democratic rights — if we embolden them to do the right thing.
We’ll be meeting directly with lawmakers, urging them to support a constitutional amendment and other reforms that can stem the tide. And, we’ll be partnering with you to directly engage officeholders and candidates as the 2012 election season heats up.
Of course, we need to do all we can to make sure our story is spread far and wide by the media so that others who share our hopes and concerns know there is something they can do about it.
All we need to do is get out there. Ready? | 
| | Onward,
Mark Hays
Campaign Coordinator | P.S. I’m one of three new organizers Public Citizen is adding to its constitutional amendment campaign team. With so much work to do here in Washington, D.C., and in communities throughout the country, your financial support is a critical component of our shared mission to prevent the wholesale corporate takeover of our democracy. Please contribute today. |
