Washington, D.C. — On Tuesday, April 12, the Center for American Progress Action Fund will host a panel of experts who will discuss how to implement solutions to tackle current threats to democracy, the influence of money in politics, and the effects of these issues on political participation at large. Panelists include Virginia State Delegate Charniele Herring (D); Marcia Johnson-Blanco, Co-Director of the Voting Rights Project at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; Lisa Gilbert, Director of Congress Watch at Public Citizen; and Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, Fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice and Associate Professor at Stetson University College of Law, with a special keynote by Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) of New York’s 3rd Congressional District.
The rise in secret political spending by unaccountable spenders has undermined public confidence in American democracy, while at the same time, the nation is seeing the most sustained attack on the freedom to vote in generations. In effect, decisions such as Citizens United and Shelby County v. Holder have made it easier to spend money on politics but harder for the average American to cast a vote. At this time, Congress has not succeeded in addressing the crisis in campaign money, and citizens need and have demanded solutions from elsewhere. Citizen-led solutions on voting rights and money in politics are succeeding at the ballot box and in state legislatures, and there is much more that can and should be done. An executive order from the White House on contractor disclosure would expose secret spending potentially being used to influence government contracting decisions and be a necessary first step, while automatic voter registration and ex-offender re-enfranchisement would open access to the ballot for more people, which is a great place to start.
This event is open to press. Please RSVP via this link.
WHEN:
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
11:00 a.m. ET – 12:30 p.m. ET
A light lunch will be served at 10:30 a.m.
WHO:
Welcoming remarks:
Carmel Martin, Executive Vice President for Policy, Center for American Progress Action Fund
Keynote address:
Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY), Member of Congress, New York’s 3rd District
Featured panelists:
Del. Charniele L. Herring (D) , 46th District, Virginia House of Delegates
Marcia Johnson-Blanco, Co-Director, Voting Rights Project, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Lisa Gilbert, Director, Congress Watch, Public Citizen
Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, Fellow, Brennan Center for Justice; Associate Professor, Stetson University College of Law
Moderated by:
Michele L. Jawando, Vice President, Center for American Progress Action Fund
WHERE:
Center for American Progress Action Fund
1333 H St. NW, 10th Floor
Washington, D.C., 20005
For more information, please contact Tanya S. Arditi at [email protected].
###