Morgan: Raising our Democracy’s woodpile
Power in Washington has been for sale to the biggest donors and the wealthiest corporations for too long. This has stood in the way of fixing the problems Americans are facing, like the rising costs of healthcare and prescription drugs and wages that don’t pay the bills. The only way we can tackle these issues is by ending the corrupting influence of money in politics so politicians will be forced to focus on what really matters - the people they represent.
Growing up, my dad had a saying that’s guided my decisions ever since, “leave the woodpile a little higher than you found it.” The For the People Act (H.R. 1, S. 1) would do just that for folks across the country. This bill is a critical reform package to get dark money out of politics, stop billionaires from buying elections, crackdown on political corruption, end partisan gerrymandering, protect the freedom to vote and ensure elections are safe, accurate, and accessible.
The For the People Act will bring dark money into the light by requiring political groups to disclose their largest donors and adding transparency rules for online political ad spending. It’s about time we end the dominance of big money and create more transparency and accountability so that politicians work for you and me rather than wealthy special interest donors.
Like I’ve said before, voters should pick their politicians, politicians shouldn’t pick their voters. The For the People Act would end the unethical practice of partisan gerrymandering where politicians draw their own districts to save their titles rather than facing the voters of their own districts. Politicians should be playing on an even field, where the best ideas win.
Granite Staters, and Americans all across the country, are sick and tired of dark money spending and billionaires buying elections, which is why the For the People Act is popular with 83 percent of Americans across the country. It’s popular with Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. Putting people first is just common sense.
Things in Washington haven’t been working for regular folks, and as a father to three young boys, that keeps me up at night. I know that their future depends on a healthy democracy, where the voices of the people matter more than billionaires who can buy elections and corrupt how our government operates. I want to raise my little guys in a country where their voices and their votes matter; where they live in a democracy for the people, by the people. We, in New Hampshire, are fortunate to have leaders like Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan representing us in the United States Senate and our members of Congress Chris Pappas and Annie Kuster and it’s important we recognize them them on their unwavering leadership in standing up for a healthy, strong democracy. The For the People Act is truly about, leaving the woodpile a little higher than we found it and giving us an even playing field to set guidelines moving forward. I hope the Senate will move quickly to pass the legislation. Let’s get this done.
Jon Morgan, Sr. Cybersecurity Threat Researcher, Brentwood Selectman, Former State Senator District 23