Tell Democrats: Stand with Puerto Rico against debt vultures

Petition to 2020 Democratic presidential candidates: "Return donations from employees of hedge funds invested in Puerto Rico's debt and commit to ending the Financial Oversight and Management Board's control over the economic life of the island" Add your name:

The vulture funds that are terrorizing the people of Puerto Rico already donated more than $231,000 to 2020 Democratic candidates. Even though the damage the firms are inflicting on Puerto Rico is clear, only Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have returned the firms' donations.1What hedge funds are doing to Puerto Rico is despicable. The Wall Street hedge funds, known as vulture funds, that own Puerto Rico's debts are forcing the island to close schools and cut budgets to line their own pockets. Their main tool is an unelected Financial Oversight Management Board, known as the junta, that is imposing brutal austerity on the island to serve the interest of Wall Street over the Puerto Rican people. Puerto Ricans fighting for their island's future are demanding an end to the junta and for 2020 Democrats to return vulture fund contributions.2  We need to stand in solidarity and echo their demands. Tell 2020 Democrats: Stand with Puerto Rico. Click here to sign the petition. Four hundred public schools have been closed. Local government budgets were slashed by $150 million so far, and another $220 million in cuts are planned. The University of Puerto Rico's budget was cut in half. Those massive cuts are going to the vulture funds that buy up debt for pennies on the dollar and demand repayment in full. These Wall Street vulture funds are costing lives and creating suffering to line their own pockets.3 The heroes of the resistance in Puerto Rico are the people who are rising up against this despicable state of affairs, including by ousting corrupt Gov. Ricardo Rosselló. Top recipients of vulture fund cash include Michael Bennet ($49,800), Beto O'Rourke ($28,750), John Delaney ($26,300), Joe Biden ($25,350) and Pete Buttigieg ($21,350). Sens. Kamala Harris ($15,500), who co-sponsored a Warren-Sanders bill to cancel Puerto Rico's debts, and Cory Booker ($23,300), who signed a letter demanding the end of the junta, have also not yet returned donations. Sanders and Warren joined other progressive champions in the House of Representatives and Senate in a letter demanding an end to the junta's control over Puerto Rico.4,5 Our friends at the Center for Popular Democracy, Make the Road Action, Vamos4PR Action, New York Communities for Change, Hedge Clippers, Boricuas Unidos en la Diáspora and many more are demanding that 2020 Democrats return dirty money from Puerto Rico vulture funds. As their letter to the candidates puts it so clearly: “You can either stand with the people of Puerto Rico or with the hedge funds that have harmed Puerto Rico. You can’t do both.”6 Tell 2020 Democrats: Stand with Puerto Rico. Click below to sign the petition: https://act.credoaction.com/sign/puerto-rico-vulture-2020?t=9&akid=34416%2E3130208%2EdrFN6z Heidi Hess, CREDO Action Add your name: References: David Dayen, "Hedge Fund Cash Flows to Presidential Candidates—at Puerto Rico’s Expense," The American Prospect, Aug. 22, 2019. Kate Aronoff and Alleen Brown, "Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez call for reversal of Puerto Rico austerity measures," The Intercept, Sep. 24, 2019. Dayen, "Hedge Fund Cash Flows to Presidential Candidates—at Puerto Rico’s Expense." Aronoff and Brown, "Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez call for reversal of Puerto Rico austerity measures." Dayen, "Hedge Fund Cash Flows to Presidential Candidates—at Puerto Rico’s Expense." Ibid.

Urge Democrats: Fight for a progressive plan to crack down on Big Pharma

Petition to the House Ways & Means, Education & Labor and Energy & Commerce Committees: "Fight for the most progressive plan to crack down on predatory Big Pharma. At the very least, any proposal to negotiate drug prices must include more than 25 drugs per year with no ceiling on the total number and policies to address high prices at initial launch." Add your name: Under pressure from House progressives, Speaker Pelosi just unveiled a better-than-expected plan to crack down on predatory Big Pharma prices.1 But this plan still isn't as strong as what we need to bring drug prices down and stop Big Pharma's out-of-control greed. And there's a real risk it gets watered down even more in fruitless negotiations. We can't let that happen – we need to keep up the pressure for the most progressive plan possible.  Tell Democrats: Fight for a progressive plan to crack down on Big Pharma. Click here to sign the petition. Sen. Warren's plan would direct the government to manufacture generic drugs. Sens. Sanders and Merkley and Rep. Ro Khanna's plan would force companies to follow international average prices or face tough consequences. Rep. Lloyd Doggett's bill would allow Medicare to negotiate discounts and let the government issue a license to produce a generic version of the drug if Big Pharma refuses to negotiate in good faith.2,3 Democratic leaders took these bold plans off the table. Their plan is weaker than the progressive options, but tougher than some of the draft plans that were floated by some of Speaker Pelosi's closest allies. It instructs HHS to negotiate the prices of only a minimum of 25 pharmaceutical drugs each year, with an unnecessary maximum of 250. It leaves room for prices above international standards and for Big Pharma to launch new medicines with absurdly high prices only to "bargain" them down. It levies penalties instead of creating competition when Big Pharma refuses to negotiate. It does include important protections to cap out-of-pocket pay under Medicare Part D and repeal some recent price hikes, and it does not include Pelosi's horrible earlier idea to let corporate-friendly arbitration panels set drug prices.4 Our voices helped block a terrible Big Pharma-friendly Democratic proposal, but we need to fight to improve the new Democratic plan and keep pushing for progressive plans that actually crack down on Big Pharma and deliver lower prescription drug prices for the American people. Tell Democrats: Fight for a progressive plan to crack down on Big Pharma. Click below to sign the petition: https://act.credoaction.com/sign/big-pharma-pelosi-sep19?t=9&akid=34223%2E3130208%2EdmyTA1 - Heidi Hess, Co-Director, CREDO Action from Working Assets Add your name: References: Li Zhou, "House Democrats just introduced an ambitious plan to take on prescription drug prices," Vox, Sep. 19, 2019. Zach Carter and Daniel Marans, "Democrats Ran On Lowering Drug Prices. Now They Could Cut A Bad Deal With Donald Trump." HuffPost, April 19, 2019. David Dayen, "Nancy Pelosi's Drug-Pricing Talks with the Trump Administration Are About Mediating Fights Between Corporate Interests," The Intercept, April 22, 2019. Zhou, "House Democrats just introduced an ambitious plan to take on prescription drug prices." More Information Pelosi's new drug plan pressures Trump on campaign pledge - Politico

Tell DNC members: Stand up for a climate debate

The petition to DNC members reads: "Join the DNC member resolution calling for a climate debate." Add your name:

Yesterday, CREDO and our partners delivered over 200,000 petition signatures directly to the Democratic National Committee calling for a presidential primary debate on climate change. Momentum for a climate debate is growing fast. Fifteen Democratic presidential candidates have joined our call, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.1 So have the USA Today Editorial Board2 and the Miami-Dade Democratic Party.3 DNC Chairman Tom Perez made a terrible decision last week to reject our demands and is now feeling the pressure – including backlash from within his own party. More than 50 members of the DNC – over 10% of the total voting membership – signed a resolution last week calling on Perez to reverse his decision and allow a climate debate.4 If we can amplify their voices, we can push Perez to give candidates a real forum to talk about solutions. Tell DNC members: Join the resolution for a climate debate. Click here to sign the petition. The next president of the United States must be prepared to take bolder, faster climate action than any leader before. After four years of Trump, we have no more time to waste. But the media is still ignoring the issue, giving cover to politicians – who refuse to take action. In 2018, climate coverage on broadcast networks plunged 45% from 2017, despite a year of extreme weather and record climate disasters around the world.5 We need Democrats to step up and put climate change on the national political stage. Without a substantive debate, we can't ensure that Democrats will nominate someone who is ready to lead. The climate crisis is complex, and we need bold solutions – not 30-second soundbites. The backlash against Perez' refusal to allow a climate debate has been rapid and fierce. He even felt compelled to write a blog post justifying his decision on the eve of our DNC rally.6 Perez seems desperate to relieve the pressure. We need to increase it and force Perez to start taking the climate crisis seriously. Tell DNC members: Join the resolution for a climate debate. Click the link below to sign the petition: https://act.credoaction.com/sign/DNC-climate-debate?t=9&akid=32875%2E3130208%2E2sVVkY - Brandy Doyle, CREDO Action Add your name: References: Ryan Schleeter, "Activists Double Down, Bring Call for a Climate Debate to DNC Headquarters," Greenpeace USA, June 12, 2019. Editorial Board, "Joe Biden and other 2020 Democrats give climate change the attention it deserves," USA Today, June 10, 2019. Ryan Nicol, "Miami-Dade Democrats call for presidential candidates to debate climate change," Florida Politics, June 12, 2019. Daniel Marans, "DNC Members Push For Climate Change-Centered Presidential Debate," HuffPost, June 7, 2019. Lisa Hymas, "The Green New Deal is pushing climate change into the mainstream media," Grist, April 3, 2019. Schleeter, "Activists Double Down, Bring Call for a Climate Debate to DNC Headquarters."

Sign the Petition: Tell Mitch McConnell to put the Anti-corruption bill up for a vote in the Senate

With the help of activists like you, we were able to get a strong H.R. 1 passed through the House of Representatives last month -- a resolution that can reform our political system through elections, campaign finances, and transparency measures.

Now we need you again. H.R. 1 should be voted on in the Senate next, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is refusing to bring it up for a vote. Can you help us put the pressure on McConnell to do what’s right and allow the Senate to vote on this vital resolution?

Sign the petition: Mitch McConnell needs to put H.R. 1 up for a vote in the Senate.

H.R. 1 proposes a massive overhaul of political corruption including money-in-politics, voting rights, and ethics laws -- all to make our democracy fair and more inclusive, which is exactly what we need.(1)

We need a democracy where voters are protected from discrimination and can make themselves heard at the ballot box. A democracy where electoral districts are drawn fairly. A democracy where ordinary Americans -- including women, people of color, and working-class Americans -- can run for office without relying on special interest and corporate money, or worse, competing against corrupt politicians that sell out.

H.R. 1 provides solutions to these problems, and the next step to get it passed is a vote in the Senate. Mitch McConnell cannot continue to hold us back from getting the democracy we all deserve.

Ask Mitch McConnell to put a resolution to reform our political system up for a Senate vote.

- the Courage team


Footnote:
1. https://www.vox.com/2019/3/8/18253609/hr-1-pelosi-house-democrats-anti-corruption-mcconnell

Ask Members of Congress to Co-sponsor the Save Oak Flat Act

Please, ask your Members of Congress to Co-sponsor the Save Oak Flat Act. It's so easy. Click this link and in put your zip code and it automatically pulls up your Members of Congress and a pre-filled letter. Just put in your into and hit send. It doesn't matter what state you live in. It takes less than a minute. Please, help #SAVEOAKFLAT #PROTECTOAKFLAT from destruction. Please, we are running out of time to save Chi' Chil Bildagoteel.. Learn more at Apache-Stronghold.com

On January 17, 2019, the Save Oak Flat Act was introduced in the US House of Representatives and the US Senate. The Bills would repeal Section 3003 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2015 and keep Oak Flat in public ownership.

Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) introduced the US House version, HR 665, with 29 cosponsors from both parties.

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced S 173, the Senate version of the Save Oak Flat Act with four cosponsors, Senators Warren (D-MA), Merkley (D-OR), Wyden (D-OR), Heinrich (D-NM), and Booker (D-NJ).

The success of the Save Oak Flat Act is very important for the protection of Oak Flat.

Please contact your Representative asking him/her to cosponsor HR 665 and your Senators to cosponsor S 173. (If your Congressional delegation members are already cosponsors, please thank him/her for helping to protect Oak Flat).

Oak Flat is critical for the religious freedom of Native Americans and is an ecological and recreational haven. Oak Flat is located 60 miles east of Phoenix, Arizona and is public land managed by the Tonto National Forest.

Rio Tinto, one of the world's largest mining companies, wants to privatize Oak Flat to build a copper mine, destroying Oak Flat in the process. Rio Tinto's Congressional supporters had been unsuccessful 12 times over ten years to give Oak Flat to Rio Tinto, but managed to attach the Oak Flat land exchange to the National Defense Authorization Act in the dead of night in December of 2014. The land exchange, which would give Oak Flat to Rio Tinto upon completion of an "environmental" study, is Section 3003 of the massive defense bill.

Rio Tinto’s mining plan for Oak Flat is currently being analyzed by the US Forest Service with public input. The more the public learns about Rio Tinto’s planned block cave mine at Oak Flat and the associated 5,000 plus acres of public land that would be permanently destroyed by a toxic waste dump and other mine facilities, the more convinced we become that this project is not feasible and must be stopped.

- Arizona Mining Reform Coalition

For More Information:

Arizona Mining Reform Coalition website page
H.R. 665 (House Version) Cosponsors
Grijalva Save Oak Flat Act Press Releasehttp://org.salsalabs.com/o/676/p/dia/action4/common/public/…

Support Rep. Maxine Waters' Consumer First Act to restore the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Rep. Maxine Waters explains the Consumers First Act.

Petition to Congress: "Support Rep. Maxine Waters' Consumer First Act to restore the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and undo the damage of Donald Trump's Wall Street first administration." Add your name:

The CFPB – the brainchild of Sen. Elizabeth Warren – was one the shining star of Wall Street oversight. In just a few short years, it "returned $12 billion to nearly 30 million consumers who have been harmed by financial institutions, handled over 1.3 million consumer complaints about financial institutions, and made the financial marketplace stronger and fairer for all Americans."1 First, Trump hijacked the independent watchdog by installing his then-OMB Director Mick Mulvaney – a man who once publicly told a room full of bank lobbyists that donors to his political campaigns got first access to his congressional office.2 Then, Mulvaney set out to destroy the CFPB from within. He put partisan hacks in charge, dismissed an independent expert consultant board, suppressed a report on exploitative student loans, dropped charges against predatory payday lenders and quit cooperating with other agencies. Now, Mulvaney's handpicked successor, Kathy Kraninger – a woman with no relevant experience who helped implement Trump's family separation policy – is continuing the crusade, starting with a handout to payday lenders.3 Rep. Maxine Waters has had enough, and now she's out to reclaim the CFPB as the new chair of the House Committee on Financial Services. Her Consumers First Act restores the CFPB's staffing and powers, protects its work to rein in predatory lenders, and blocks further administration sabotage.4 We must help Rep. Waters pass this bill to undo the damage and expose Trump's Wall Street first agenda. Stand with Rep. Waters: Don't let Trump help Wall Street prey on working people. Click here to sign the petition. https://act.credoaction.com/sign/waters-cfpb?t=9&akid=31935%2E3130208%2Ew4YO5_ - Josh Nelson, CREDO Action Add your name: References: Timothy Jenkins, "Chairwoman Waters introduces bill to reverse Mulvaney actions," Consumer Finance Monitor, March 7, 2019. Ibid. Ibid. Ibid. More Information: Donald Trump Is Targeting an Agency That Has Recovered $11.8 Billion for Consumers - Fortune, Jan. 2017

Stop Pres. Trump from rewarding predatory lenders

Submit a public comment to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: "Preserve and protect strong rules on payday lenders, including standards for ensuring recipients can repay loans. Anything less is a giveaway to an exploitative industry that preys on hard-working Americans." Add your name:

One of the textbook examples is Trump University, his sham educational center that a judge forced to pay students $25 million in damages for making fraudulent promises.2 In Washington, just look at the Trump Tax Scam – Trump claimed to drain the swamp, but he then drained working people's pocket books and gave massive handouts to the rich.Donald Trump spent most of last month's State of the Union address lying about his record. That's no surprise. He's been lying about his plans for years. In fact, that's how he stayed in business: making grandiose promises to get people to believe in him before they realize it's a scam or outright fraud.1 Nowhere in the State of the Union did this fraud populist admit to the American people that he just handed a massive giveaway to predatory lenders that trap people in debt.3 Now, it is up to us to resist his gift to payday lenders and expose Trump's false populism. Stop scam artist Donald Trump from rewarding predatory lenders. Click here to submit a public comment. The dirty secret of the payday lending industry is that there is no money in people repaying their loans on time. The key to the whole profit-making engine, the one that makes lenders’ Wall Street backers rich, is tricking people into taking out a loan and then locking them into months or years of debt. Charging hidden fees and demanding sky-high interest rates, payday lenders are little more than legal loan sharks. Now Trump wants to make it easier for payday lenders to exploit people. His handpicked leaders of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – first now-acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and then Kathy Kraninger – have set out to destroy the watchdog Sen. Elizabeth Warren initially proposed.4 Kraninger just announced the CFPB would rescind the most important part of an Obama-era rule on payday lenders: the part that would force lenders to confirm if someone has the ability to repay a loan, instead of deliberately trapping them deeper in debt to make money off the interest.5 Once again, Trump is siding with powerful Wall Street financial interests and pushing a change that will disproportionately hurt low-income Americans and people of color. We have fewer than 90 days to flood the CFPB with comments opposing the giveaway to predatory lenders and exposing the latest Trump scam, so we need your help. Stop scam artist Donald Trump from rewarding predatory lenders. Click below to submit a public comment: https://act.credoaction.com/letter/trump-payday-lending-rule?t=9&akid=31743%2E3130208%2EP4KX52 - Josh Nelson, CREDO Action Add your name: References: Bess Levin, "Trump wants to give loan sharks easier access to the poor," Vanity Fair, Feb. 6, 2019. Josh Hafner, "Judge finalizes $25 million Trump University settlement for students of 'sham university,'" USA Today, April 10, 2018. David Dayen, "This Is What Trump Quietly Screwing the Poor Looks Like," VICE, Feb. 7, 2019. Ibid. Ibid.

Resistance needed in Arizona: Stand up to Trump's #FakeNationalEmergency

A Weak and Rambling President Declares a Fake National Emergency.

Defend our communities and democracy this President's Day. RSVP now to resist Trump's illegal national emergency. Click below to RSVP:

This President's Day, CREDO and our friends at MoveOn, Win Without War and United We Dream are taking this fight to the streets and calling on progressives to show up in force and demand that Congress rein Trump in. Will you join us? Trump's fake national emergency is an unconstitutional and illegal power grab. We need to force Congress to revoke it immediately. Stand up to Trump's #FakeNationalEmergency on Monday. Click here to RSVP for an event near you. Abusing emergency powers to bypass Congress and force American taxpayers to pay for a racist wall they don't even want is undemocratic and unconstitutional. It's also extremely dangerous. Declaring a state of emergency gives Trump access to more than 100 statutory powers that would allow him to override the laws that protect our civil rights and civil liberties and unleash a range of nightmarish scenarios at the border and in communities across the country.1 He'll be more able than ever to escalate attacks on immigrants, communities of color, Muslims and Black and Brown people. This kind of illegal power grab is exactly why we have three branches of government. Under the National Emergencies Act, Congress can revoke a declaration of emergency. It can and must use its authority to stand up to Trump now, before he erodes our democratic institutions any further. Trump himself is the emergency, and Congress has the power – and the responsibility – to respond. We have the power – and the responsibility – to force Congress to act. Stand up to Trump's #FakeNationalEmergency on Monday. Click the link below to RSVP for an event near you. https://act.credoaction.com/go/28243?t=9&akid=31642%2E3130208%2EUaNVro - Nicole Regalado, CREDO Action Click below to RSVP: References: Elizabeth Goitein, "What the President Could Do If He Declares a State of Emergency," The Atlantic, January/February 2019. More Information: A Weak and Rambling President Declares a Fake National Emergency - The New Yorker  This calls for MORE ACTION!  Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) plan to introduce a bill to stop President Trump's emergency declaration. A congressional aide tells a reporter from The Hill: "We've got people flooding in to support this." Congress needs to stop this -- now. Emergency powers must be reserved for actual emergencies. SIGN THE PETITION: Tell members of Congress to use every tool -- forcing legislative votes and pushing this in the courts -- to reverse Trump’s sham national emergency. We will share the momentum of this petition with key allies in Congress as they decide how and whether to push back. Elizabeth Warren's response was immediate: "I want to be absolutely clear: this ridiculous wall isn't a national emergency, and Donald Trump isn't a king. We'll fight this with everything we've got." Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal wrote, "Every single member of Congress swore an oath to defend our Constitution. House and Senate Republicans need to join Democrats and defend our Constitution from Donald Trump's #FakeTrumpEmergency." Even some conservatives are breaking from Trump. The head of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce called it "a dangerous precedent that erodes the very system of government that has served us so well for over 200 years." SIGN THE PETITION: Tell members of Congress to use every tool -- forcing legislative votes and pushing this in the courts -- to reverse Trump’s sham national emergency. -- The PCCC Team

Tell Congress: Pass the Climate Risk Disclosure Act

The petition to Congress reads: "Pass the Climate Risk Disclosure Act." Add your name:

Climate change is one of the biggest economic threats the world will ever face. Yet under our financial system, companies are incentivized to ignore it completely. The longer they wait to face reality, the greater the chances that all of us will face what Sen. Elizabeth Warren has called “a global catastrophe that will put the 2008 crisis to shame.”1 That's why Sen. Warren recently introduced the Climate Risk Disclosure Act. The bill would require companies to evaluate and report their climate risks, which would inform responsible investors and deter them from putting money into companies that don't manage them responsibly. Tell Congress: Pass the Climate Risk Disclosure Act. Click here to sign the petition. Our financial system incentivizes behavior that will lead to catastrophic climate change. Not only does the United States subsidize fossil fuel production, but it allows companies to ignore the harm they are causing to the climate and hide the ways that climate change could disrupt their business from investors. The Climate Risk Disclosure Act would help change that. The bill would require every public company to disclose greenhouse gas emissions, fossil fuel assets, plans for managing climate risks and an analysis of how the company's value would be affected by climate change and climate policies.2 It would force companies to be transparent about their environmental impact and give investors the information they need to make responsible decisions about whether they want to invest in companies that are fueling climate change. Under the bill, the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) would set requirements for each business sector and enforce penalties on companies that don't comply. Although the SEC already passed a rule in 2010 that requires companies to include climate risks in their annual filings, the agency has not enforced it and companies have largely ignored the rule.3 We need Congress to take action. Passing progressive environmental legislation like this today will be tough, but we don't have much time to lose. if we start building support for the Climate Risk Disclosure Act in Congress now, we can help make it a reality once progressives are in power. To do that, we need to let our representatives know that we demand that companies be held accountable for the climate risks they are imposing on us all. Along with Sen. Warren, the bill is already co-sponsored by Sens. Brian Schatz, Ed Markey, Sheldon Whitehouse, Cory Booker, Kamala Harris, Kirsten Gillibrand and Jeff Merkley.4 Tell Congress: Pass the Climate Risk Disclosure Act. Click the link below to sign the petition: https://act.credoaction.com/sign/climate-disclosure-act?t=7&akid=30219%2E3130208%2ECxTYUe - Brandy Doyle, CREDO Action Add your name: References: Sen. Elizabeth Warren, "Warren, Colleagues Unveil Bill to Require Every Public Company to Disclose Climate-Related Risks," Sept. 17, 2018. Ibid. Karen Savage, "New Bill Would Require the SEC to Police Companies’ Climate Risks," Climate Liability News, Sept. 20, 2018. Timothy Cama, "Warren wants companies to disclose more about climate change impacts," The Hill, Sept. 14, 2018.

Petition to Congress: Support Sen. Elizabeth Warren's Accountable Capitalism Act

Petition to Congress: "Raise wages and fight inequality by forcing corporations to be accountable to employees and communities, not just shareholders. Support Sen. Elizabeth Warren's Accountable Capitalism Act." Add your name:

Conservative corporate puppets launched unhinged verbal attacks on Sen. Elizabeth Warren's new corporate reform bill. They said it is a plan to "nationalize… everything," amounts to "the wholesale expropriation of private enterprise in the United States and nothing less," and would "destroy capitalism."1 They're completely untethered from reality. In truth, Sen. Warren's bill would simply require corporations to care about more than just enriching executives and stockholders.2 We need to show how many of us have Sen. Warren's back and support making corporations accountable to employees and communities. Stand with Sen. Warren: Corporations must answer to workers and communities. Click here to sign the petition. Corporations only exist because government-granted charters allow them to profit, for instance, by protecting owners from full liability for anything the corporation does wrong. In return, corporate boards and executives used to believe they had a responsibility to do right by workers and communities as well as competing in the market. That all changed in the 1980s, when corporate executives began to focus narrowly on providing value to shareholders.3 The result? Executives get paid based on how much they can squeeze workers without regard for their health, the environment or the impact on communities. Focusing on shareholder value poured fuel on the flames of inequality. Today, CEOs make on average of 361 times more than their average worker, and the few Americans who own stock get most of the wealth created. Meanwhile, many companies aren't innovating, investing in future production or raising wages.4 Sen. Warren's plan makes corporations accountable to American interests, not their own. It would:5 Demand more of corporations. Corporations that rake in more than $1 billion would need to get a federal charter – not a lax state-based one – that includes new responsibilities to take communities and workers into account, modeled on existing "benefit corporations." Give workers more say. Under the new charters, employees would elect at least 40 percent of the corporate board of directors, a model proven effective in countries like Germany. That means workers would have a massive voice in compensating executives and setting priorities. Rein in inequality and political influence. Executives would face new limits on their ability to profit off of the sale of company stock. Corporations would not be able to spend any money influencing elections unless 75 percent of shareholders and directors approve it. The hate from right-wing Republicans and their Wall Street allies for this plan betrays their loyalty to the super-wealthy over widespread economic growth and raising wages. We need to stand with Sen. Warren and demand corporate reform now. Stand with Sen. Warren: Corporations must answer to workers and communities. Click below to sign the petition. https://act.credoaction.com/sign/warren_corporate_accountability?t=7&akid=29853%2E3130208%2E6Ih3KV -Josh Nelson, CREDO Action from Working Assets Add your name: References: Matt Yglesias, "Kevin Williamson’s unhinged attack on Elizabeth Warren’s corporate accountability bill, explained," Vox, Aug. 17, 2018. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, "Companies Shouldn’t Be Accountable Only to Shareholders," The Wall Street Journal, Aug. 14, 2018. Ibid. Matt Yglesias, "Elizabeth Warren has a plan to save capitalism," Vox, Aug. 15, 2018. Warren, "Companies Shouldn’t Be Accountable Only to Shareholders."

Petition to support Sen. Elizabeth Warren's Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity Act

Petition to Congress: "End the culture of corruption that corporate cronies in both parties have enabled for far too long. Support Sen. Elizabeth Warren's Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity Act." Add your name:

Corruption is at the heart of the Trump administration and the way Washington operates, but progressive champion Sen. Elizabeth Warren has had enough. She just unveiled powerful, comprehensive new anti-corruption legislation, and now she needs our help to push it forward.1 Stand with Sen. Warren: End the culture of corruption. Click here to sign the petition. The sad fact, though, is that Trump is just the blinding tip of an iceberg that has been hiding beneath Washington's bipartisan waters for far too long. Business-as-usual in Washington means that government employees jump to lucrative jobs with the industries they used to regulate, members of Congress lobby their former colleagues, and judges benefit from perks and speaking engagements funded by corporate cash.3 In a major public address, Sen. Warren just rolled out a plan to strike at the heart of the culture of corruption that encompasses both parties. The sweeping legislation would:2  Crack down on the revolving door between industry and government by banning lucrative golden parachutes for taking government jobs and blocking members of Congress from making stock trades. Ban senior elected and administration officials from ever becoming lobbyists and make other changes to reform lobbying and ensure members of Congress act more independently of lobbyists. Toughen ethics requirements across the board including stronger ethics requirements on increasingly pro-Wall Street judges and a stricter enforcement of anti-corruption laws on judges and the executive branch. Make government more transparent by forcing candidates and elected officials to disclose more about their finances, shining a light on the corporate cash flooding Washington and opening Congress's work to the public eye. Trump is benefiting because of a Washington culture of corporate corruption decades in the making. It's time to start fighting back. Stand with Sen. Warren: End the culture of corruption. Click the link below to sign the petition: https://act.credoaction.com/sign/warren_anti_corruption?t=7&akid=29761%2E3130208%2EmJosHD -Josh Nelson, CREDO Action Add your name: References: David Weigel, "Elizabeth Warren unveils anti-corruption plan, takes aim at Trump," Washington Post, Aug. 21, 2018. Sen. Elizabeth Warren"Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity Act," Aug. 21, 2018. More information: Sen. Elizabeth Warren just unveiled a dramatic plan to eradicate Washington corruption