Common Cause

Campaigns

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  INVESTIGATE: Lindsey Graham tried to toss GA ballots

  South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham has once again proven that his loyalty to Donald Trump will always come before our democracy and the rule of law. According to a Washington Post story, Graham urged Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger -- a fellow Republican -- to throw out legally-cast ballots from targeted Georgia counties during the state’s recount. The conversation reportedly left Raffensperger “stunned.” Let’s be clear: every eligible vote cast in this election should and WILL be counted, no matter what Graham says or does. These voters faced a global pandemic, vote-suppressing laws, and rampant disinformation to make themselves heard in this all-important election year -- and Graham has no right to try to shut them out of our democracy. This is just another desperate play by Republicans to overturn the legitimate results of this election. As Trump files meritless lawsuit after lawsuit to stop ballot counting or otherwise interfere with election officials' work -- his lackeys are falling in line, doing everything in their power to support Trump’s futile effort. It’s time for direct action in response to their outrageous attempts to sow doubt about our electoral process and shut out voters. Graham currently chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee -- and if his party maintains its Senate majority, he'll oversee crucial legislation like the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. If Graham has been actively trying to toss out eligible ballots, he should not lead this committee’s work. Add your name to tell the Senate Ethics Committee: this heinous voter suppression attempt must be swiftly investigated -- and in the meantime, Senator Graham should step down as Judiciary Committee Chairman.

  74,037 of 75,000 Signatures

  Created by Common Cause
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  NEW: Trump-approved postmaster general's policies could delay mail-in ballots

  The United States Postal Service offers crucial services for Americans nationwide -- including enabling millions to vote safely from home this year. But if Trump’s new postmaster general gets his way, the agency will become so overburdened that it can no longer reliably provide these services. That means voters' ability to cast an absentee ballot during this pandemic will be limited -- potentially disenfranchising countless Americans in November, or forcing them to risk their health at the polls. Since the Postal Service’s founding, USPS workers have been committed to ensuring that every piece of mail gets delivered in a timely, reliable fashion -- and that the mail is picked up from every address every day, even despite staffing shortages. But DeJoy -- a Trump mega-donor with no previous USPS experience -- just implemented extreme new regulations that will inhibit postal workers’ ability to do their jobs. He is eliminating all overtime, cutting all extra trips, and directly instructing mail carriers to leave mail behind at distribution centers -- if delivering it might extend their hours. This will lead to serious delivery delays of everything from life-saving medications to vote-by-mail ballots and 2020 Census forms. And it’s particularly dangerous as we get closer to Election Day -- when there will be a substantial increase in vote-by-mail usage across the country, straining the Postal Service’s now artificially limited capacity. DeJoy claims these changes will cut costs -- but more likely, they’ll put the already beleaguered agency in even deeper financial peril, while also crushing customers’ confidence in the USPS. Instead, our senators need to step up for the Postal Service and follow the House’s lead in passing crucial funding to save it. Right now, we need a massive outcry directed at DeJoy from everyday Americans who rely on the Postal Service. Add your name today.

  64,291 of 75,000 Signatures

  Created by Common Cause
• Congress: Override Trump’s veto and REJECT his "national emergency"

  This is a gut check moment for every lawmaker who says they care about the rule of law. When President Trump failed to get his border wall built through the democratic process, he decided to undermine the checks and balances that have protected our nation for centuries -- declaring a phony “national emergency” to pay for it. In response to this brazen attack on the rule of law, the House and the Senate passed a resolution with strong bipartisan support to block the president’s declaration. But as expected, Trump once again put his own interests first -- and used his first presidential veto to dismiss Congress’ bipartisan resolution. Now, it’s up to Congress to override the veto. Our elected officials must put the good of the country before the good of the party and check this power grab by President Trump -- with a 2/3 vote in each house. We cannot let our president blatantly ignore our democratic system to fund his anti-immigrant agenda. Add your name and demand our representatives take a stand for the rule of law.

  19 of 100 Signatures

  Created by Common Cause
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  COVID-19: Expand vote-by-mail in every state

  Poll workers dropping out. Last-minute polling place closures. Voter confusion. Low turnout. Voters in Florida, Arizona, and Illinois dealt with these unprecedented challenges and more on their primary day due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. And if Congress doesn’t act now, millions more could be disenfranchised this year. The solution? A strong vote-by-mail program in every state -- accompanied by ample early voting hours and expanded no-excuse absentee voting. But it’s up to Congress to take the necessary steps to move these reforms forward and ensure that every voter can cast their ballot safely. That includes passing the Natural Disaster and Emergency Ballot Act. This crucial bill would offer voters in every state the option to cast their ballot by mail -- eliminating the health risk that may come with voting in person. It’d also expand early voting programs nationwide, reducing crowd sizes at the polls and offering those who need or prefer to vote in person more flexibility. Implementing these reforms before the November election will take ample time, equipment, and funding -- so it’s crucial that Congress acts fast. Protecting voters shouldn’t be a partisan issue, and the reforms in this bill are already popular with Republican, Independent and Democratic voters in states across the country. Add your name to tell your members of Congress: there’s no time to delay. Pass the Natural Disaster and Emergency Ballot Act now!

  3,535 of 4,000 Signatures

  Created by Common Cause
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  Stop Trump's attacks on transparency and the COVID-19 response package

  President Trump is once again waging a war against legitimate, independent oversight of his administration. His latest target? Glenn Fine -- the acting inspector general who was set to watchdog the administration's management of the $2 trillion COVID-19 response package that Congress passed last month. Fine, a longtime and dedicated public servant, was chosen by a panel of inspectors general to lead these oversight efforts. But Trump just had Fine removed from his position -- without explanation. This is just the latest attempt by Trump to eliminate any and all supervision over his actions. He also recently fired Michael Atkinson, the inspector general who brought the Ukraine whistleblower’s complaint to Congress -- and he attacked inspector general Christi Grimm on Twitter after she released a report describing widespread COVID-19 testing delays in the U.S. Trump took one lesson from his party’s lockstep defense of his impeachable conduct: there’s no line you can’t cross that Republicans in Congress won’t back you up on. We’re seeing the consequences of that inaction now -- as Trump continues to openly abuse his power. Unless we speak out, Trump won’t stop until there isn’t a single watchdog left in the White House -- no one overseeing his administration's decisions, and nobody to put a stop to waste, fraud, or abuse of power. The Special IG must aggressively oversee the administration of this money and use their subpoena power to get necessary information. Similarly, both the SIGPR, the Congressional Oversight Commission and the PRAC must be given live access to the computer servers of the Treasury and any agency shoving money out its doors. Add your name to condemn Trump’s firing of Glenn Fine -- and to demand strict oversight of the Trump administration.

  107,995 of 200,000 Signatures

  Created by Common Cause
• CONFIRMED: Trump Jr. was willing to work with Russians to influence election

  We now have a paper trail of Donald Trump’s son soliciting a contribution -- in this case, opposition research to influence the presidential election -- from a Russian national with ties to Putin's government. Common Cause filed an official complaint with the Federal Election Commission and the Department of Justice against Donald Trump Jr. and the Trump campaign, following reports that Trump Jr. met with a Putin-connected Russian lawyer to obtain "official documents and information that would incriminate Hillary." NOW...we already have confirmation of wrongdoing: Trump Jr. himself tweeted out emails that prove he illegally solicited a contribution from a foreign national, just as our official complaints alleged. Those emails explicitly discuss "Russia and its government’s support for Mr. Trump." This is what we've been working towards for months. The American people deserve the full story of the Trump campaign’s possible collusion with the Russian government in its attempts to interfere with the 2016 election. Federal law defines a contribution as "anything of value ... for the purpose of influencing any election for Federal office" -- which makes Donald Trump Jr.'s attempt to obtain damaging information on his father's election opponent a clear-cut violation of the law. There’s no telling how deep this goes. One thing is certain: our complaint (Common Cause v. Donald Trump Jr.) and the investigation it calls for could finally expose the truth about Trump and Russia that the American people are demanding. Now that we know Trump Jr. broke the law -- and a full investigation of his crime could reveal the extent of Trump and his team's involvement with Russia's attack on our democracy. Add your name today to demand a full investigation.

  76 of 100 Signatures

  Created by Common Cause
• No Trump Cover-up -- Mueller's report must be public

  Any day now, Special Counsel Robert Mueller could wrap up his investigation into Russia’s attempts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election -- and whether Trump’s campaign colluded with them or the President obstructed justice to cover it up. The investigation has already delivered indictments of or guilty pleas from 34 people -- including Trump confidant Roger Stone’s arrest just days ago. Yet at every turn, Trump and his loyalists have attempted to politicize and derail Mueller’s efforts to uncover the truth. The results of Mueller’s investigation are a matter of grave national importance -- and Americans have a right to the full truth. But, there’s a serious risk that Trump’s Attorney General -- or other members of his Administration -- might try to hide Mueller’s findings from the public. That would be an unacceptable abuse of power by the Trump Administration -- we must act now to prevent this from happening. We’re calling on both chambers of Congress to pass the bipartisan Special Counsel Transparency Act -- which will guarantee a public report of Mueller’s factual findings, as well as his reasoning behind whether or not to press charges. Donald Trump has, at every step along the way, tried to impede and derail Mueller’s investigation. We absolutely cannot let Trump or his Administration bury Mueller’s report. Sunlight is the best disinfectant, and We The People have the right to know the full truth. Please add your name and demand that Congress pass the Special Counsel Transparency Act.

  46,954 of 50,000 Signatures

  Created by Common Cause
• Presidential favor is not for sale

  Vice President Mike Pence visits Dublin, Ireland for official business -- and stays at a Trump hotel 200 miles away on the taxpayers’ dime. T-Mobile needs Trump’s approval to buy Sprint -- and their CEO spends nearly $200,000 at the Trump International Hotel in Washington. And on its way back from a routine trip to the Middle East, an Air National Guard crew makes a stop that’s anything but routine -- at Trump’s luxury waterside resort in Scotland. Foreign diplomats, Republican lawmakers, lobbyists, and candidates who are eager to curry favor with the President have spent millions at Trump-owned properties. And unlike EVERY modern president before him, Trump has refused to divest from his businesses -- so he reaps the profits. It’s fundamentally corrupt for a president to privately profit from his public office. That’s why our Constitution expressly forbids it -- banning the president from accepting payment, or “emoluments,” from foreign parties and accepting more than his salary from federal or state governments. Right now, Congressional Democrats are investigating whether Trump has violated the Emoluments Clause. This investigation must be thorough and uninterrupted -- because the American people expect our leaders to be held to the highest possible ethical standards.

  422 of 500 Signatures

  Created by Devon Nir
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  Reject the Senate’s coverup

  The Senate has voted to acquit Donald Trump -- giving him and future presidents a green light to abuse their power and put themselves above the law. No new evidence admitted. No witnesses called. No due process. It’s clear that Senate Republicans never wanted all the facts -- because they knew those facts would show that Trump is guilty. Trump’s acquittal comes despite the damning testimony against him from multiple career public servants... despite his defenders’ repeatedly disproven lies... and despite 75% of Americans wanting to hear from additional witnesses before the Senate voted. Simply put: Trump’s enablers know he is guilty. And they know that their constituents still have unanswered questions. But they just don’t care. Americans nationwide are outraged, and we’re not backing down. We’ll keep fighting for a just democracy, even if these senators won’t -- and we’ll hold any representative who puts themselves above the law accountable. Add your name to condemn the Senate’s sham trial -- and to decry those Republican senators who have failed their constituents, their constitutional duty, and their country by voting to acquit President Trump.

  513 of 600 Signatures

  Created by Common Cause
• Donald Trump: Stop lying about our elections

  Americans deserve, and largely have, elections systems that are safe & accurate. There’s always room for improvement -- and we’re working to ensure that all states implement reforms ensuring the fairness and accessibility of the franchise -- but it doesn’t help to spread lies that undermine confidence in our democracy and pave the way for voter suppression. That’s why it’s so alarming that, according to the New York Times, President Trump “asserted that between three million and five million unauthorized immigrants voted for Mrs. Clinton” at a meeting with Congressional leaders. The Times continues, “Voting officials across the country have said there is virtually no evidence of people voting illegally, and certainly not millions of them.” It’s more than just “alternative facts” -- there are no facts at all that support what President Trump is saying. As President, Trump should be working to improve our elections systems -- not telling lies that undermine confidence in them. And this lie should worry you more than most: because lawmakers have invoked the myths Trump is pushing to justify a wave of voter suppression laws in states across the nation. Between this and his nomination of lifelong voting rights foe Jeff Sessions as Attorney General, we must stand vigilant against any attempts by the Trump Administration to limit our right to vote. We expect and demand better from our leaders at the top. That’s why it’s so important to call out Donald Trump’s election lies for what they are. Please add your name and tell President Trump to stop lying about our elections, and give up his witch hunt after voters.

  7 of 100 Signatures

  Created by Common Cause