COMMON CAUSE for COMMON CAUSE

District of Columbia DOC

Common Cause urged Members of the House of Representatives to support the DC Voting Rights Act (H.R. 1905) and urged the Senate to pass the DC House Voting Rights Act (S.1257). The bills would give an elected representative for the District full voting power in the House of Representatives. Voting representation in the U.S. House of Representatives for citizens of the District of Columbia.

Contacted: SENATE; Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Bills named: H.R. 1905 (110th), S. 1257 (110th)

Government Issues GOV

Election Reform Common Cause urged the House to pass H.R. 811, Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2007. Common Cause opposed efforts to amend various legislation to require voters to show photo identification at the polling place. Common Cause supported efforts to rollback implementation of the Real ID Act. Common Cause urged the Senate to pass S.1, the Ethics and Lobbying Reform Bill. Common Cause asked for an amendment to the Reid-McConnell substitute to S.1 that would require Senate candidates to file their campaign finance reports electronically. Common Cause asked Senators to vote for an amendment to S.1, introduced by Senator DeMint (R-SC), that would strengthen earmark reform. Common Cause asked Senators to invoke cloture on the Reid-McConnell substitute to S.1 on January 17, 2007. Common Cause urged Senators to vote against an amendment to S.1, offered by Senator Bennett (R-UT) that would remove a disclosure provision from the Reid-McConnell substitute that required lobbying firms to report the amount of money they spend to conduct “Astroturf” lobbying campaigns. Common Cause urged Senators to support an amendment to S.1, offered by Senator Feingold (D-WI), that would expand revolving door restrictions on former Members and staff to include all lobbying activities, not just direct lobbying contacts. Common Cause supported an amendment to S.1, offered by Senator Lieberman (I-CT), that would require the disclosure of earmark lobbying by lobbyists. Common Cause supported an amendment offered by Senator McCain (R-AZ), that would allow a Point of Order to be raised against unauthorized appropriations, earmarks, and policy riders and prohibited federal agencies from dispensing funds for appropriations earmarks, included only in report language. Common Cause urged the Members of the House of Representatives to pass a strong Ethics Reform Package (H.R. 2316 and H.R. 2317) that will include provisions such as: stronger revolving door restrictions, increased disclosure for Members and senior staff negotiating with private organization for future employment, increased travel disclosure, a prohibition of Members from influencing hiring choices based on political affiliation, and disclosure requirements for lobbyists that "bundle" campaign contributions on behalf of Members. Common Cause urged members of an ethics task force led by Representative Capuano (D-MA) to endorse a proposal that would create an independent ethics commission that would have the power to initiate ethics investigations involving congressional members and staff. Government Accountability/Attorney General Common Cause urged Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to resign. Common Cause urged the House Judiciary Committee to initiate impeachment proceedings for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. FEC Appointment Common Cause urged the Senate Rules and Administration Committee Chair Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) to reject the noomination of nomination of Hans von Spakovsky to the Federal Election Commission. Campaign Finance Reform Common Cause urged Senators to support S.1285, the Fair Elections Now Act, legislation that would implement a voluntary public finance system for funding congressional elections. Ethics Common Cause praised the House of Representatives for passing H Res. 6, a bill that would reform congressional lobbying and ethics rules.

Contacted: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Justice, Dept of (DOJ); Federal Communications Commission (FCC); SENATE

Bills named: H.Res. 6 (110th), S. 1 (110th), H.R. 2316 (110th), S. 1285 (110th), H.R. 811 (110th), H.R. 2317 (110th)

Communications/Broadcasting/Radio/TV COM

Common Cause urged the Federal Communications Commission to vote against expanded must-carry rules, to impose a national cable ownership limit and regional cable ownership limits that will enhance effective competition, to stop its review of media ownership rules until it has fully studied the impact these changes will have on diversity of ownership, and to implement policies that promote more diverse media. Common Cause co-signed a letter to the Federal Communications Commission urging the agency to promote minority and female ouwnership of broadcast stations and help alleviate the lack of diverse voices exacerbated by increasing media consolidation. Common Cause urged the Federal Communications Commission to oppose the proposed merger between Sirius and XM Satellite Radio companies. Common Cause asked Representatives to co-sponsor H.R. 2802, the Local Community Radio Act of 2007. This bill would authorize the Federal Communications Commission to license hundreds of new Low Power FM (LPFM) radio stations in cities, towns and suburbs across the country.

Contacted: SENATE; Federal Communications Commission (FCC); HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES; Justice, Dept of (DOJ)

Bills named: H.R. 2802 (110th)