Are you frustrated with the role of big money in politics? Do you believe democracy belongs to ALL people not just rich people or corporations defined as people?

Join the League of Women Voters of Eden Area and the Associated Students, Inc. at Cal State University East Bay on May 12 from 6-8pm for a forum on “Dark Money in Politics.” The forum will be held at CSUEB, student union building in the multi-purpose room.

The keynote speaker is the newly appointed Vice Chair of the Federal Elections Commission (FEC), Ann Ravel.  She was formerly Chair of the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC).   A representative from California’s Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) will also speak.

A unique feature of this forum includes a presentation by remote means by the founders of Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream—Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield.  Their stand on “Dark Money in Politics” can be found on www.stampstampede.org. – a grassroots movement that stamps money out of politics one stamp at a time on your dollar bills. “Are you ready to restore democracy to people?” is Ben and Jerry’s callout to the public.

The jobs of the FEC and the FPPC have been made more difficult by recent Supreme Court’s decisions on Citizens United and the McCutcheon case.  One declared that corporations are “people” and can set up and secretly fund Political Action Committees (PACs) to support or oppose candidates and issues.  The McCutcheon case struck down aggregate limits on campaign contributions.

Elizabeth MacNamara, president of the U.S. League of Women Voters said, “In the end, the only reliable response to a flood of money in our elections is a flood of voters at the polls, each voter armed with the kind of reliable, unbiased information that the League provides.”

The forum is free, but the League requests rsvps and/or questions to lwvea@aol.com to ensure space and refreshments are available.