To: Toni G. Atkins, Speaker of the Calfornia Assembly
Call out Assembly Democrats for killing the California DISCLOSE Act
California Assembly Democrats and Assembly Speaker Atkins:
As progressives, we usually volunteer to help elect Democrats. But we were shocked that you recently caved in to special interests and killed the California DISCLOSE Act, which would have required ads for ballot propositions to clearly say who paid for them.
We agree with Nancy Pelosi’s statement that the DISCLOSE Act is “fundamental to our democracy and fairness in our system.” The California Democratic Party Platform and 84% of California voters also call for legislation to require that the real funders of ballot proposition ads be shown on the ad. If the Koch brothers, or PG&E or Monsanto is behind a ballot proposition, we voters need to know that.
It’s hard to support Assembly Democrats when you won’t pass such a fundamental democratic reform. On the other hand, if we got a clear signal from Speaker Toni Atkins that she will vote for a new DISCLOSE Act that ensures the true original funders of ads are shown instead of bogus front groups, and that she will make sure it gets a vote by the full Assembly next year, that would go a long ways to encourage us to support your election this fall.
As progressives, we usually volunteer to help elect Democrats. But we were shocked that you recently caved in to special interests and killed the California DISCLOSE Act, which would have required ads for ballot propositions to clearly say who paid for them.
We agree with Nancy Pelosi’s statement that the DISCLOSE Act is “fundamental to our democracy and fairness in our system.” The California Democratic Party Platform and 84% of California voters also call for legislation to require that the real funders of ballot proposition ads be shown on the ad. If the Koch brothers, or PG&E or Monsanto is behind a ballot proposition, we voters need to know that.
It’s hard to support Assembly Democrats when you won’t pass such a fundamental democratic reform. On the other hand, if we got a clear signal from Speaker Toni Atkins that she will vote for a new DISCLOSE Act that ensures the true original funders of ads are shown instead of bogus front groups, and that she will make sure it gets a vote by the full Assembly next year, that would go a long ways to encourage us to support your election this fall.
Why is this important?
Last month, California Assembly Democrats killed the DISCLOSE Act, which would require telling the truth about who is behind ads about Ballot Propositions. You can send a message to those Democrats about how you feel about their caving in to pressure from special interests, by signing this petition. Oh, and, by the way, as you sign the petition, you can give them a piece of your mind about what they did!
We’re tired of ads that are really paid for by the Koch Brothers or PG&E or Monsanto saying they’re paid for by fake front groups with high-sounding names like Americans for Prosperity (a front group for the Koch brothers) or California Drivers Alliance (a new front group for the Oil Companies), or Americans for Mom and Apple Pie. We demand to know who is really paying for the ads, and the DISCLOSE Act will require that.
Make a bold statement for truth in advertising–sign the petition.
The whole progressive agenda will be helped by the DISCLOSE Act. Imagine how different things would be if special interests opposed to LGBT rights, civil rights, healthcare reform, and corrective actions to reduce global warming and protect the environment, had to clearly disclose themselves to voters on their ads about ballot propositions.
Ask your legislators to stand up to the Special Interests and vote for the people–sign the petition.
You’ll be glad you did!
We’re tired of ads that are really paid for by the Koch Brothers or PG&E or Monsanto saying they’re paid for by fake front groups with high-sounding names like Americans for Prosperity (a front group for the Koch brothers) or California Drivers Alliance (a new front group for the Oil Companies), or Americans for Mom and Apple Pie. We demand to know who is really paying for the ads, and the DISCLOSE Act will require that.
Make a bold statement for truth in advertising–sign the petition.
The whole progressive agenda will be helped by the DISCLOSE Act. Imagine how different things would be if special interests opposed to LGBT rights, civil rights, healthcare reform, and corrective actions to reduce global warming and protect the environment, had to clearly disclose themselves to voters on their ads about ballot propositions.
Ask your legislators to stand up to the Special Interests and vote for the people–sign the petition.
You’ll be glad you did!