Dear Secretary Mnuchin, 

The COVID-19 pandemic is upending our food system, threatening the livelihoods of our nation’s farmers who have already endured six years of depressed prices and farm income. Previous bailouts lined the pockets of agribusiness giants that wield extreme 1 market control, including Brazilian-owned JBS. We are concerned that the $500 billion 2 authorized under Title IV of the CARES Act “to provide liquidity to eligible businesses, States, and municipalities” and the combined $23.5 Billion allocated to USDA for direct disaster relief will likewise be funneled to large agribusinesses, enabling them to buy out struggling competitors and further consolidate their market power. 

We urge you to block any loans to and investments in major corporate players in the food system, including the largest meat and poultry processors, seed and fertilizer suppliers, and supermarkets. Instead, we urge you to use these funds to help family farms and smaller, independent meat processors and input providers survive these economic challenges, as well as farmers markets, farm stands, independent grocery stores, and other regional food infrastructure that is playing a pivotal role in meeting local food needs during this pandemic. 

Madison, WI (April 14, 2020) – In the April election, Wisconsin residents in seventeen communities voted to amend the U.S. Constitution to clarify that only human beings should have inalienable human rights and money is not the same thing as free speech.

All referenda passed with overwhelming majorities in the cities of Rhinelander (89%) and Eagle River (87%) and the towns of Wescott (86%), Newbold (87%), Crescent (83%), Pelican (85%), Woodruff (85%), Pine Lake (86%), Hazelhurst (86%), Arbor Vitae (87%), Presque Isle (79%), Winchester (79%), Boulder Junction (86%), Phelps (81%), Lac du Flambeau (85%), Plum Lake (82%) and Manitowish Waters (77%).

That brings the total to 163 Wisconsin communities that have called for an amendment. In total, almost 3.2 million people (56% of Wisconsinites) live in these jurisdictions.  Across the country, 20 state legislatures have voted for an amendment, as well as over 820 towns, villages, cities and counties.

A half century after the first Earth Day, the environment is near a tipping point of collapse. All of us must be a part of the solution, which includes, in part, abolishing corporate constitutional rights and big money in elections, but must include much more. [See list of specific suggested actions at the end.]

Wednesday is Earth Day -- the 50th Anniversary of what is considered the birth of the modern environmental movement. 

An estimated 20 million people took part across the US on April 22, 1970 in marches, rallies, teach-ins and other public events, sparked by growing concern of environmental deterioration and destruction. The movement led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and passage of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act. It was a testament to the power of people organized in an independent grassroots movement demanding change. 

The coronavirus has already created sudden and intense change to many of our lives...and to our collective work. It’s going to continue to intensify in the weeks and months ahead. 

Major and sudden change often produces great uncertainty, anxiety, and fear, but it can also create opportunities. 

We sincerely hope you’re doing the best you can under the circumstances -- physically, mentally and emotionally. While physical distancing at the moment is critical, we need more than ever to come together socially for support. Social isolation is not an option. We need to collectively address fears and concerns of our uncertain future.  

We know you deeply care about others, your community, the world and democracy. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be on our list. 

It's been in the works for awhile -- and we are SUPER excited to announce that we have a BRAND NEW WEBSITE!

This is an upgrade we've needed for awhile now. Our old website (which was cutting-edge back in 2012!), was out of date -- it is hard to read on a smartphone, and just "busy" compared to the new trend of simple, sparse and streamlined.

But that's all changed now! Take a look around, let us know what you think! We are going to be real -- this was a necessary but *costly* upgrade for us. Please help us recoup the $7500 we've spent so far, because a user-friendly website is invaluable for organizing!

It isn't easy keeping up with the big foundation-funded Joneses, when you are a *grassroots* organization. 

Your donations go DIRECTLY to the work. Our small dollar donations have funded all of the political organizing labor and travel that has gone into getting 73(!) cosponsors for the #WeThePeopleAmendment (and a BIG thank you our 73rd, Rep. Katie Porter)!

But as scrappy as we are, there are areas we simply can't skimp on. And a clean-looking and easy-to-navigate website was sorely needed. It wasn't in the budget, but we did it. Help us recover from this critical investment by making a generous donation to the Movement to Amend!

We appreciate being able to be honest with you about all the things we need from our supporters so we can continue this important work. We'd sure rather talk about it with YOU than big funders!

Thank you helping us keep up with the Joneses :)

And let us know what you think of the new site!

"The US Supreme Court decided Citizens United 10 years ago. I’m calling for the end to corporate constitutional rights and political money as free speech."

By Rep. Pramila Jayapal, THE NATION

This past fall, Amazon challenged the proudly progressive character of my home city, Seattle, pouring $1.5 million into its City Council elections.

In doing so, Amazon placed not just a thumb but also a fistful of cash on the scales of our democracy. Thanks to immediate organizing on the ground and the speaking out of elected officials, the cynical and last-minute corporate spending on elections backfired: Nearly all of the Amazon-backed candidates lost their races.

However, on this 10th anniversary of the US Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that catalyzed our current era of super PACs and corporate power, the clear danger posed by money in politics is real. Citizens United vastly expanded the rights of corporate entities and the super-wealthy to spend or invest their money to influence political elections and deepened the corrupting electoral influence of big money.

WASHINGTON, DC. Activists and grassroots organizers across the country mobilized for a national day of action to call on their representatives to take action against corporate power today marking ten years since the disastrous Citizens United vs FEC Supreme Court decision, a case that opened the floodgates to money in politics and activated a new movement to eradicate corporate power.

A Report on the Totality of Corporate Constitutional Rights Beyond First Amendment Political Free Speech

The Citizens United v. FEC decision expanded corporate ability to influence the outcomes of a core element of our democratic republic: political elections. Contrary to the traditional narrative,  the corporate hijacking of democracy and dominance over people, communities and the environment began long before Citizens United. And also contrary to the traditional narrative, the corporate assault on Americans' rights extends far beyond their ability to influence elections. 

Successful movements in history won because they knew a variety of tactics were necessary to force change. Move to Amend recognizes that we stand on the shoulders of giants as we work to deepen and diversify our tactics going into 2020.

We have VERY exciting plans and we need your support to blow them out of the water -- make an end of year donation today to ensure we can accomplish all of our 2020 goals!

Here's a rundown of some of the things we have cooking...

Thom Hartmann is an author, progressive political commentator, and a long-time supporter of Move to Amend--and he has a message for you.

"As the New Year approaches, Move to Amend is entering its second decade. Between the drawn out and divisive impeachment proceedings, and the neoliberal/conservative policies fueling the corporate takeover of our democracy that I report on daily, it isn’t surprising that many Americans are hoping 2020 will somehow bring a fresh start. Maybe some hope too.

And Move to Amend, well...this movement is giving me a reason to hope. Amid all of the chaos and uncertainty of this Congress and the current administration, our committed and passionate group of activists managed to end 2019 by topping their strategic plan goals of 65 cosponsors in the House, and with a commitment from a Senator to introduce the #WeThePeopleAmendment in 2020!

I remain hopeful about the future because of groups like Move to Amend. Working with a committed and passionate group of folks who understand the changes needed in the U.S. is rare and something that I am incredibly proud to support.

Please help Move to Amend get all of us one step closer to real democracy; to the end of corporate rule and corruption. Please join me in donating today!