I write today in praise of Twitter, which we started using in earnest last year to communicate with state legislators, who pay rapt attention to what GFC has to say. Eg, last week state legislator Alex Lee tweeted this message, which was appended to one issued by federal legislator Ro Khanna:
Corporate special interest money has too much influence in our elections. That’s why I introduced #AB20 on my first day in office
Thank you to MY congress member @RoKhanna for joining this fight for Corporate-Free Elections https://t.co/tS5Jim0Lom
— Alex Lee 李天明 (@VoteAlexLee2020) February 12, 2021
I responded with this:
When I review donations to each of you on Cal-Access and OpenSecrets, I see lots from enterprises that do business with or are regulated by the governments you serve. Does that make sense to you?
— David Crane (@DavidGCrane) February 12, 2021
To my surprise, the federal legislator responded:
Actually David I take no $$ from corporation or any PACs. One of only seven members that takes money only from individuals. Many of those individuals obviously are employed. Perhaps you are seeing their employer affiliation.
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) February 12, 2021
I responded:
Corps cannot use corp funds to donate to fed candidates. Corps can donate to state candidates, but since most state spending goes to employees, corps matter less than public sector unions, from whom Mr Lee accepts donations from all except, to his credit, prison guard unions.
— David Crane (@DavidGCrane) February 12, 2021
After which Mr. Khanna changed the subject:
.@DavidGCrane I know you aren’t a big believer in the federal government. But why not fund universal childcare, preschool, nutrition, universal healthcare, college federally. Very low interest rate, low inflation. A robust federal response would solve a lot of what you care about https://t.co/DlEblZsi77
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) February 12, 2021
We need fed help with infrastructure but CA is already passing up billions in fed $ because retired police et al won’t take ACA and aren’t satisfied with Medicare, plus no reasonable level of fed $ could abate the >$1 trillion in pension liabilities crowding out services.
— David Crane (@DavidGCrane) February 12, 2021
There was more. The point is that state legislators saw it all. But they care only if we have power. Our power derives from you. If you haven’t already donated this year, you may do so here. If you need suggestions for how to allocate your donation, let us know.
