Campaign Finance Reform, or Third Party Poison Pill?

News story on News 12 Long Island concerning HR 4694. This bill would limit, and in some cases for all practical purposes eliminate funding for third party candidates in congressional races.

In some instances third party and independent candidates could not spend one cent on a race.

The video is here.

GPoS Press Release:

Steve Israel, member of congress from the 2nd congressional district, has co-sponsored a bill that would effectively bar third party candidates from running for Congress. The bill, HR 4694, requires third party candidates to either have gotten 25% of the vote in the last election or to collect signatures of 10 to 20% of the voters in their district to be able to spend money in an election campaign. For a potential third party candidate in the 2nd Congressional District, this would mean the need to collect as many as 56,000 signatures to receive full funding - or to even spend one penny of their own funds.

In 2002 when Steve Israel ran for Congress in the 2nd Congressional District, in addition to a Republican opponent, Israel also faced Green Party candidate John Keenan. Unlike Israel, Keenan had a platform that was progressive and strongly opposed to war.

Throughout the years, Israel has run on a platform and reputation of being a conservative Democrat, who has even proudly named cooperation with President Bush on his campaign literature. On the campaign trail in 2004, Steve Israel argued in favor of the War on Iraq.

Considering that voters in the 2nd CD often face the choice of a right wing Republican, or Steve Israel, a right wing Democrat, it is even more important that third parties are allowed to exist and offer an alternative. Here in Suffolk County, as in many places around the nation, the Green Party candidate--and not the Democrat--is the only choice voters have at the polls to oppose the war.

" Now, eight Democrats, some of them conservative, but some very liberal, have proposed a problematic bill in Congress," said Jim Brown, Green Party candidate for Congress in the 3rd District. "On the surface, the bill could be perceived as positive, because it mentions publicly financed campaigns. Though, the bottom line is that this bill would create a nearly impossible hurdle for third party candidates. And, the fact that three of the co-signers have in the past faced Green Party challengers, points even more to the fact that this bill is designed to hurt growing third parties."

Jim Brown added, "True democracy would be hurt by this horrendous bill."

Contact:
Kimberly Wilder, Green Party of Suffolk County Press Secretary
(631) 422-4702
John Keenan, 2002 Green Party candidate for Congress for the 2nd District (631) 523-9558
Jim Brown, 2006 Green Party candidate for Congress for the 3rd District (516) 432-8156

Green Party looks to offer political voice for 'working people'
Group hopes to gather more support in Tier

Matthew Borenstein of the New York City Green Party voices his opinions during the New York State Green Party committee meeting Saturday at the Fellowship Hall of the First Congregational Church in Binghamton.

By Brian Liberatore
Press & Sun-Bulletin
BINGHAMTON — The better-of-two-evils approach to voting leaves polling places sparse and dampens hope for a responsive government, a local Green Party member and Afton town board member said Saturday. Dissatisfaction with the two-party system, she said, soon gives way to apathy.

"I think people feel if there are only two parties and neither one is representing me, there isn't a lot of motivation to vote," said Mary Jo Long, who ran on the Green Party line in November 2005 and won a seat on the Afton board. "In a way what has happened is the Green Party is the alternative party."

Continue reading Green Party looks to offer political voice for 'working people' at Press & Sun-Bulletin

Grassroots/Low-income/People of Color-led
Hurricane Katrina Relief

Where to donate to organizations who are:

* Organizing at the grassroots level in New Orleans, Biloxi, Houston and other affected areas
* Providing immediate disaster relief to poor people and people of color
* Directed by, or accountable to, poor people and people of color
* Fostering the democratic inclusion of poor people and people of color in the rebuilding process

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