Letter to House on Democracy for All Amendment

Alliance for a Just Society • American Association of University Women • American Family Voices Center for Media and Democracy • Common Cause • Conference of Major Superiors of Men Consumers Union • Communications Workers of America (CWA) • Corporate Accountability International • Daily Kos • Food & Water Watch • Franciscan Action Network • Free Speech for People Greenpeace • Jobs with Justice • Leadership Conference of Women Religious • League of Conservation Voters • Main Street Alliance • Money Out Voters In (MOVI) • National Education Association (NEA) • NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby • OurTime.org • People for the American Way • Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) • Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) Progressive Democrats of America • Public Campaign • Public Citizen • Sierra Club • Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Institute Justice Team • United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries USAction • U.S. PIRG • Voices for Progress 

September 17, 2014 

Dear Speaker Boehner and Majority Leader McCarthy: 

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decisions in recent years in Citizens United v. FEC, McCutcheon v. FEC, and other cases have subjected our democracy to a tidal wave of corporate and special interest money in elections. This unlimited campaign spending seriously threatens our democracy and silences the voices of average Americans. As Justice Breyer wrote in his dissent to McCutcheon, “where enough money calls the tune, the general public will not be heard.” 

Because our government is becoming too dominated by big money interests to be responsive to the needs of everyday Americans, we are writing to urge you to allow a vote this year on H.J. Res. 119, the Democracy for All Amendment. 

This proposed constitutional amendment, which has more than 100 cosponsors, would re-establish Congress and the states’ ability to pass common-sense guidelines for election spending. It can help to ensure that our elected officials pay more attention to the people who elect them rather than their campaign donors. The amendment would overturn Citizens United v. FEC, McCutcheon v. FEC, and the 1976 Buckley v. Valeo ruling and restore First Amendment values of democratic self-government. 

If the wealthiest Americans and corporations can drown out the voices of ordinary Americans, we cease to be a democracy. In fact, a 2014 Princeton study analyzing 1,800 different policy initiatives over a 20+ year period concluded that we have now become an oligarchy in which “economic elites and organized groups representing business interests” wield the most power. 

We cannot fully address the many challenges our country faces—jobs and the economy, energy independence, housing security, and many others—until we solve the root issue of money dominating politics. Passing a constitutional amendment is a critical way to elevate the voices of everyday Americans so that everyone, not just the wealthy few, can be heard. To date, 16 states and 500+ localities representing more than 100 million Americans have called on Congress to pass an amendment to get big money out of politics. 

Amending the Constitution should only be done in the rarest of circumstances. However, America has reached a tipping point in which big-moneyed interests exert control over all levers of government. Instead of being of, by, and for the corporations and ultra-wealthy, American democracy needs to turn to an era of, by, and for the people. A majority of senators have voted for a fair and open debate on a companion Democracy for All Amendment, and the House should have a debate as well. We strongly urge you to allow an open debate and a floor vote on H.J. Res. 119, the Democracy for All Amendment, so that ordinary Americans will again have a voice in our democracy. 

Sincerely, 

Alliance for a Just Society 

American Association of University Women 

American Family Voices 

Center for Media and Democracy 

Common Cause 

Conference of Major Superiors of Men 

Consumers Union 

Communications Workers of America (CWA) 

Corporate Accountability International 

Daily Kos 

Food & Water Watch 

Franciscan Action Network 

Free Speech for People 

Greenpeace 

Jobs with Justice 

Leadership Conference of Women Religious 

League of Conservation Voters 

Main Street Alliance 

Money Out Voters In (MOVI) 

National Education Association (NEA) 

NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby 

OurTime.org 

People for the American Way 

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 

Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) 

Progressive Democrats of America 

Public Campaign 

Public Citizen 

Sierra Club 

Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Institute Justice Team 

United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries 

USAction 

U.S. PIRG 

Voices for Progress 

CC: House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Minority Whip Steny Hoyer 

The Corker-Hoeven amendment!

At 5:30 p.m. today, the Senate will vote to replace the current version of SB744 with the Corker-Hoeven Amendment. It is expected that this vote will pass and the Corker-Hoeven Amendment will become the NEW reform legislation. Please see below for a summary of the changes. Advocates are feeling very torn about this because it militarizes our border, while tying legalization to those changes and expenditures. There are questions about how this build up will be paid for and estimates put the cost at $30Billion. 

This militarization of our borders is in opposition to GA policy. Further, GA policy calls for a full pathway to citizenship without "imposing punitive costs, wait times, or other irksome conditions." 

Please call your Senators and urge them to oppose the Corker-Hoeven Amendment and to support a comprehensive immigration plan that provides a pathway to citizenship without militarizing our border or making the pathway to citizenship contingent on border measures.

Call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 or find your Senators' direct lines at www.senate.gov.

Sample call script: "I am from [City, State, Congregation], and I support immigration reform. As a person of faith, I urge the Senator to OPPOSE the Corker-Hoeven amendment, by objecting to the substitution and calling for consideration of this amendment in regular order. 

WHAT IS THE CORKER-HOEVEN AMENDMENT?

This amendment would require the following before Registered Provisional Immigrants (RPIs) can obtain green cards:

•  An unprecedented surge more than doubling the Border Patrol with an additional 20,000 agents along the southern border (there are currently a little over 21,000 agents, resulting in nearly a doubling of BP)
•  $4.5 billion in specific technology and equipment operationalized along the southern border 
• At least 700 miles of fencing completed along the southern border
• Mandatory electronic visa entry/exit system implemented at all air and sea ports of entry to detect those who overstay visas
• Mandatory employment-verification system used by all employers
• Mandates initiation of removal proceedings for at least 90% of those who overstay visas 

The amendment would also prevent immigrants from getting Social Security credits for what they have already paid into the system using a social security number that was not issued to them; and restrict the Department of Health and Human Services from granting waivers to states to allow them to use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) dollars to provide benefits to people in RPI status.

Rather than being considered as a separate amendment to the bill, the Corker-Hoeven amendment instead will be rolled into a substitute bill that includes all the provisions of the original immigration reform bill S. 744, as well as all of the amendments that have been added to the bill through the floor amendment process. 

Update on immigration bill--ACT NOW!

The Senate is expected to continue debate on the bill beginning Monday and proceed to vote on amendments on Tuesday. Thanks to all of our calls, the Senate voted to table Grassley’s amendment #1195 yesterday. This amendment would unnecessarily delay the initial step of the path to citizenship for the millions of people who would qualify to obtain Registered Provisional Immigrant (RPI) status. Now is the time for us to stay strong and remain engaged in the debate. The following amendments, which would significantly delay and restrict access to the path to citizenship, will be considered on Tuesday. These amendments are not in line with our General Assembly policy, which calls for an inclusive path to citizenship without long waiting periods or irksome conditions and opposes the continued militarization of our Southern border.

RUBIO'S AMENDMENT #1225

Families call for an end to deportations 

Senator Rubio's amendment #1225 would mandate that in order for those with RPI status to get a green card, they would have to meet the same eligibility requirements for English and civics as someone applying for citizenship - which is a much higher bar than currently in place for people adjusting their status to lawful permanent residency (LPR). This would restrict a lot of people from being able to adjust to LPR, and thus from being able to sponsor their family members for reunification. The standard currently set in the bill, to allow people in RPI status to adjust to LPR if they are "satisfactorily pursuing a course of study...to achieve an understanding of English and knowledge and understanding of the history and Government of the United States" should remain, so individuals can adjust to LPR and continue learning English to prepare for the citizenship exam.

GRASSLEY'S AMENDMENT #1195

Senator Grassley's amendment #1195 would significantly delay access to the initial registration process of the path to citizenship. It would prevent our undocumented community members from obtaining Registered Provisional Immigrants (RPI) status until the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) certifies to Congress that DHS has maintained “effective control” over the entire southern border for six months.

CORNYN'S "RESULTS" AMENDMENT

Senator Cornyn's RESULTS amendment would mandate unreasonable triggers that could inevitably delay the path to citizenship and increases enforcement costs without a clear strategy and purpose. The Department of Homeland Security would have to ensure 100% situational awareness of the border, full operational control, and fully implement a nationwide employment verification system and biometric entry and exit system at all air and sea ports of entry. This would cost around $24 billion, mostly for adding 10,000 officer and agents. These are extremely high costs for expenditures that lack clear justification.

VITTER'S AMENDMENTS

Senator Vitter's amendments #1201 and #1228 would needlessly delay the pathway to citizenship until DHS implements US-VISIT (biometric border check-in and out system) and Congress confirms that this has been sufficiently implemented. Not only would this unnecessarily delay the already lengthy 13-year pathway to citizenship, but it would be very difficult for congress to confirm that the US-VISIT system has been sufficiently implemented, especially given the political dynamics inherent in such a vote, and thus requiring congress to confirm could inevitably delay the path to citizenship.

THUNE'S AMENDMENTS

Senator Thune's amendment #1196 would delay the initial step of the path to citizenship - RPI status - until all Southern Border governors approve the Department of Homeland Security's Comprehensive Southern Border Security Strategy and certify that the strategy has been substantially implemented. Thune's amendment #1197 would require the completion of the 350 miles of reinforced, double-layered fencing before RPI status may be granted and to require the completion of 700 miles of such fencing before those with RPI status can get green cards. This would not only delay the 13-year path to citizenship but doubles down on an ineffective and destructive fencing strategies that have cost U.S. taxpayers well over $49 billion. Thune's #1197 would go even further, and in the meantime needlessly delay the path to citizenship.

Please call TODAY and keep calling through Tuesday to ensure these negative amendments do not pass!

Call 1-866-940-2439 to be connected with your Senators.

If you are having problems, you can also call the Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 or find Senators' direct lines at www.senate.gov

Feel free to use this sample script:

"I am from [City, State, Congregation], and I support immigration reform. As a person of faith, I urge the Senator to vote NO to Senator Rubio's amendment #1225, and to amendments sponsored by Senators Cornyn, Thune, and Vitter, which would significantly delay the path to citizenship and make it less accessible for our undocumented community members."