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Bold Commitment to Young People's Top Priority Issue
SAN FRANCISCO - Young people, often dismissed as having little influence
in politics, have just secured pledges from than 40 Congressional candidates
to a support an aggressive set of campaign finance reforms. Young people
nationwide chose campaign finance reform as their top priority issue in a
national, online vote this fall at the GenerationNet.org website.
Pledge signers include candidates from 20 states, and incumbents of both
major parties. More than 25 of the signers are members of the Democratic or
Republican parties.
"America's young people have spoken, and our lawmakers are listening," said
Peter Schurman, executive director of GenerationNet.org, the group that
organized the campaign. "It's time to get the big money out of our
elections, time to level the playing field and free our lawmakers from the
constant money chase."
The GenerationNet.org pledge entails a commitment not only to press for a
ban on soft money, but also to push for a roll-call vote on a broader
package of reforms, including voluntary "Clean Money" public funding of
federal elections, following the precedent recently set by state initiatives
in Maine, Arizona, Vermont, and Massachusetts. The text of the pledge
follows.
1. "I will press congress to bring to a vote, before July 4, 2001, a ban on
so-called "soft money" -- unlimited contributions to political parties --
and I will support such a ban with my vote.
2. "With this first step taken, I further pledge my support for moving
Congress to hold a roll-call vote by July 4th, 2004 on the following
additional measures that together represent comprehensive campaign reform,
and I pledge my vote for these measures:
· Tighter regulation of independent expenditures and issue advertising,
· State-of-the-art electronic disclosure of large contributions,
· Overhaul of the Federal Election Commission to assure timely and strict
enforcement of the laws,
· Free or reduced-cost TV advertising for candidates who abide by spending
limits,
· And the establishment of a voluntary "Clean Money" public funding option
for candidates who
wish to be free of the compromising special-interest money chase."
"These pledges show the power of young people's voices raised together,"
said Stacey Abrams, GenerationNet.org's president. "There are 131 million
people in generations X and Y, and that's almost half the American
population. Together our voices can have a huge impact."
GenerationNet.org is a new, national, non-partisan, non-profit campaign
using the Internet to give young people a voice in shaping the laws that
affect our lives. GenerationNet.org addresses the problem of young people's
alienation from politics, which undermines our democracy. Less than
one-third of 18- to 24- year olds voted in the last presidential election.
Yet more than two-thirds of young adults surveyed by the National
Association of Secretaries of State believe that "our generation has an
important voice, but no one seems to hear it." Politicians' attitudes
toward young people were illustrated in 1992 when then-Senator Wyche Fowler
(D-GA) asked young activists, "Students don't vote... do you expect me to
come in here and kiss your ass?" (as quoted in Newsweek).
GenerationNet.org's two-stage campaign combined online organizing and
offline activism. In stage one, from August 29th to September 22nd, members
voted at the group's website, http://www.GenerationNet.org, democratically
choosing campaign finance reform as their top issue. Stage two, just
completed, is an offline, grassroots campaign, pressing politicians
throughout the country to sign the GenerationNet.org campaign finance reform
pledge.
GenerationNet.org is a new nonpartisan, nonprofit, web-based advocacy
organization for young people. The group sets no age boundaries for
membership, but appeals primarily to those born after the baby boom, because
prior generations already have a strong history of political participation.
Generations X and Y are defined by demographic historians Strauss and Howe
as beginning in 1960.
GenerationNet.org Pledge signers, by State & Congressional District:
House Candidates
1. Nelson, Larry (D-AZ-6)
Senate Candidate
1. Howell, Scott (D-UT)
Contact:
Peter Schurman
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