Cindy Black, Executive Director of Fix Democracy First, spoke at the February 28th community conversation about the film “Dark Money” which was hosted by Meaningful Movies At First Church Seattle.
“Dark Money” examines one of the greatest threats to American democracy: the influence of untraceable corporate money on our elections and elected officials. The film takes viewers to Montana, a frontline in the fight to preserve fair elections nationwide, to follow a local journalist working to expose the real-life impacts of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision in which the Supreme Court ruled that “political spending is a form of protected speech under the First Amendment, and the government may not keep corporations or unions from spending money to support or denounce individual candidates in elections. While corporations or unions may not give money directly to campaigns, they may seek to persuade the voting public through other means, including ads, especially where these ads were not broadcast.” – https://www.darkmoneyfilm.com
Cindy Black has been the Executive Director of Fix Democracy First since 2016. She was also the Campaign Director for the Washington Coalition to Amend the Constitution (WAmend) that led to a successful statewide 2016 ballot Initiative (#735), making Washington the 18th State to call for a U.S. Constitutional amendment to end court decisions like Citizens United. She is active with several state and national coalitions, addressing voting access, money in elections, alternative voting systems, and increasing civic participation. Cindy is committed to helping pass pro-democracy legislation locally and nationally, as well as building an active citizen’s movement through ongoing coalition building, common sense reforms, and public outreach.
Cindy graciously provided the below links to share with individuals wanting to learn more and take action!
Follow the Money – https://www.followthemoney.org/
Open Secrets – https://www.opensecrets.org/
Federal Election Commission (FEC) – https://www.fec.gov/
Dark Money Basics – https://www.opensecrets.org/dark-money/basics
Dark Money – Brennan Center – https://www.brennancenter.org/issues/reform-money-politics/influence-big-money/dark-money
Dark Money in the 2020 Election – https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/dark-money-2020-election
Influence of Big Money – https://www.brennancenter.org/issues/reform-money-politics/influence-big-money
Citizens United Explained – https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/citizens-united-explained
Undisclosed and unlimited: The ‘dark money’ in U.S. politics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT274vd9hu4
Dark money spending since Citizens United set to eclipse $1 billion – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT274vd9hu4
SpeechNow v. FEC – The Case that Created Super PACs, and Our Challenge –
https://freespeechforpeople.org/speechnow-v-fec-case-created-super-pacs-challenge/
Seattle Takes On Citizens United – A new law knocks “foreign-influenced” corporations out of city politics by working with the decision, not fighting it. – https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/14/opinion/seattle-citizens-united.html
Overturn Buckley v. Valeo – https://www.politico.com/interactives/2019/how-to-fix-politics-in-america/corruption/overturn-buckley-valeo/
Please Don’t Follow This Money – A new Supreme Court case will take on “dark money” in politics. –https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/19/business/dealbook/supreme-court-dark-money.html
Court will hear Koch-linked group’s appeal over disclosure – https://apnews.com/article/san-francisco-charles-koch-us-supreme-court-california-courts-0c61a138f17e1b5458b8fa4c602ac48c
Fix Democracy First – https://www.fixdemocracyfirst.org/
FDF Events – Democracy Happy Hour – https://www.fixdemocracyfirst.org/events
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