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Public Forum: Money in Politics – the Corporate Takeover of our Democracy
September 23, 2014 @ 7:00 pm
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Susquehanna Valley Progressives will host its premier public forum with guest speaker Barry Kauffman, Executive Director of Common Cause Pennsylvania, a group working to restore the integrity of the legislative process and modernize the state’s election laws.Barry Kauffman who will discuss the:
- consequences of the Citizens United decision;
- influence of corporate money in elections;
- lack of transparency in government; and
- solutions to restore the integrity and effectiveness of our democracy.
About the Speaker:Barry Kauffman is Executive Director of Common Cause/Pennsylvania, the Keystone State’s leading government integrity advocacy organization. As Executive Director, he serves as the state organization’s chief executive officer and is its principal lobbyist in Harrisburg.Common Cause/PA is a citizen lobbying organization with 10,000 members and affiliates in Pennsylvania. It has been credited with creating the momentum necessary for passing numerous important government reform measures. Some of these include: The Public Officials Ethics Act, Lobbyist Disclosure and Regulation Act, Campaign Finance Disclosure Act; Sunset Act; Sunshine Act; Open Records Reforms; Whistleblower Act,; Judicial Discipline Constitutional Amendment; Tax Expenditures Act; Motor Voter Act; Independent Counsel Act; Internet Disclosure of Campaign Contributions; Internet Availability of Bills, Laws and Legislative Calendars; Statewide Uniform Voter Registration Act; and Help America Vote Act Implementation. CC/PA helped pass campaign contribution limits for Philadelphia political campaigns, and County Website disclosure of political contributions for Allegheny County elections. CC/PA also filed and won lawsuits to defend the constitutionally mandated process for passing state budgets, and defended the state pension system from attempted raids by retired lawmakers. CC/PA advises local citizen groups on organizing, legal rights and good government issues. It also is considered the “go to” source for comments on government integrity issues.Common Cause/PA currently is working to restore the integrity of the legislative process, and modernize the state’s election laws. It is aggressively pursing campaign contribution limits and a redistricting system that advances voters’ interests in competitive elections.Kauffman is a regular commentator on the above issues in media throughout the state, and beyond. He is frequently called upon to speak to a wide variety of organizations about government reform issues.Prior to joining Common Cause, Kauffman was a citizens’ advocate in the Governor’s Office working out of the Governor’s Action Center. He also served the State Advisory Council on Vocational Education as a Regional Coordinator, and the Hospital Association of PA as a Program Consultant.Kauffman served on Governor Rendell’s Pennsylvania Elections Reform Task Force, and founded the Pennsylvania Voters Coalition. He is the founder of the Sierra Club Pennsylvania Environmental Lobby (SPEL), and started the publication SPELbinder (now PA Environmental Spotlight), Pennsylvania’s first legislative newsletter focussing on environmental issues. He is a past state chair of the Sierra Club.Kauffman received a B.A. in Political Science from Indiana University of PA, an M.S. in Communications from Shippensburg State University, and has numerous post-graduate certifications. He is a native of Conestoga, Pennsylvania.
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