Conyers Supports Coalition’s Recommendations to Baker/Carter Election Comm

[Kevin Spidel]

April 17th, 2005
Contact: Alysia Fischer
Email: [e-mail]


Conyers Supports Coalition’s Recommendations to Baker/Carter Election Commission

(Washington, D.C.) – Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) endorses a comprehensive list of recommendations for the Baker/Carter Election Commission put together by a coalition of pro-Democracy organizations. The coalition, led by Progressive Democrats of America, Velvet Revolution, Code PINK, Global Exchange, Hip-Hop Caucus, and United Progressives for Democracy is calling for the B/C Commission to recommend the following to Congress:

• Constitutional right to vote for all citizens, without exception
• Paper ballots as the official record of all votes cast
• Open source code for all machines used to count and/or tabulate the votes
• Independent analysis of all voting machine software and hardware before and after elections
• Unified national standards for national elections
• No vote machine company executive or employee involvement in campaign work for any candidate
• Random audit of 10% of elections
• 10-day period for voting
• Election day registration
• Voter identification by any official form of identification
• Independent non-partisan administration and multi-partisan observation of elections
• Voting rights restoration to convicted felons
• No computer networking of vote machines
• Publicly financed elections for federal offices and free access to public airwaves to all candidates
• Fair ballot access laws and access to debates for all candidates and parties
• Federal holiday for national elections
• Instant Run-off Voting and Proportional Representation
• Equal protection for voting rights nationwide
• Augmentation and reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act

In a statement released on April 16, 2005 Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) voiced his support for these recommendations:

"I wholeheartedly support and endorse the recommendations of the Progressive Democrats of America election reform coalition, which includes Code PINK, Velvet Revolution, United Progressives for Democracy and Global Exchange. I have heard from thousands of progressive activists, along with traditional civil rights groups, who are very concerned about the direction of the Baker-Carter Commission. I have previously written to President Carter expressing my concerns about his co-chair, James Baker III, who for me -- and many, many other voters will forever be remembered for his role in disenfranchising Florida voters, particularly minority voters and the elderly, by stopping the counting of votes in the 2000 Presidential election. This weekend, additional information has come to light in the alternative media about other advisors to the Commission and the witnesses chosen for its first hearing. To many, the deck seems to be stacked against traditional civil rights concerns and voter verified paper ballots, and in favor of wealthy corporate voting machine companies and Right wing operatives who have advocated Jim Crow-style tactics, such as partisan challengers at the polls and new and needless voter ID requirements. An early signal of this Commission's policy agenda would go a long way toward allaying the fears of many, fears that I share."

# # #

About Progressive Democrats of America:
Progressive Democrats of America is one of the fastest growing political organizations in the country. PDA is currently active in all 50 states. PDA was formed to provide a counter-balance inside the Democratic Party to the Democratic Leadership Council. PDA has a national policy board of noteworthy thought leaders who are formulating the true Progressive position on issues of national security, economic progress, shared prosperity, sustainable ecology, equality for all and a peaceful, just future. Learn more about Progressive Democrats of America by visiting: http://www.pdamerica.org.


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For more information about Progressive Democrats of America and the progressive movement within the Democratic Party, visit www.pdamerica.org or contact us at [e-mail] or 877-368-9221.

[bear425]

1. Thank you for posting - nominated, too.

John Conyers is truly one of our best! Oh, and you too! :)

[salib]

2. Wow. Sounds wonderful to me.

I expecially like the national vacation day. I always like more vacation days.

Seriously, I like all of these proposals.

[KittyWampus]

3. Comprehensive List. It's So Repulsive To See Baker's Name W/ Carter

like pairing St Francis with Frank Perdue.

[Patchuli]

4. Kick, kick and KICK!

WOOO HOOOOOOO! :bounce:

[seriousstan]

5. 10-day period for voting AND Federal holiday for national elections ?

Does that mean a 10 day national holiday?

I use a vacation day to work the polls 2 times a year. I would have to quit if these were implemented.

No vote machine company executive or employee involvement in campaign work for any candidate. Employee? So nobody working for a vote machine company could campaign for their candidate? Wouldn't that just make it more likely for unseen involvement?

[Tigress DEM]

12. Guessing that National Holiday is Nov 2....

10 day may be referring to, "don't rush to call the election results" until 10 day period to count ALL the votes has passed. So the official count is announced when 10 days is up or all votes in and cross checked by the random 10%.

[ailsagirl]

6. I love Conyers... he's a real hero

:loveya:

[Califooyah Operative]

7. awesome. nt

[Califooyah Operative]

8. http://www.conyersblog.us/

http://www.conyersblog.us/

[lala_rawraw]

9. You get journalists and activists together...

and you get results:)

[Zorra]

10. Excellent. John Conyers and PDA Rock. If these recommendations

become law I may be able to someday believe in America again.

[Tigress DEM]

11. John Conyers for Pres, Barbara Boxer for VP!!

Both Conyers and Boxer keep doing the right things without anyone having to hold their hand and tell them what the right things are.

THESE two are serious leaders of the DEM party in terms of stepping up to the plate and hitting it out of the park on the important things.

The other thing about it is we break 2 major political glass ceilings and make history in the process.

Then we take our other presidential contenders and load the bases for multiple runs with every DEM lined up just to win.

Kerry for Attorney General to replace that scumbag appointed and repair the damage.

Hillary to replace whatever schmuck does get plunked into the UN spot. She's the ultimate diplomat to have come through Bill's scandal looking like class, but still tough enough that no one will think to push the US around.

Wes Clark for Secretary of State. He understands that you don't lie to the American people.

Dennis Kunnich to get the EPA back on track.

[Festivito]

13. ...does NOT SUPPORT Baker/Carter. Conyers NOT mention in link.

PDA, Progressive Democrats of America, joined ..
Code PINK, Velvet Revolution, United Progressives for ...
James Baker/Jimmy Carter Election Commission has caused our coalition a great deal of concern.
questionable motivations
dubious background of some prominent members (i.e., Baker!!!)
not at all confident this Commission .. (to complete positive solns.)

RECAP:
. PDA SPECIFICALLY does NOT support Baker/Carter commission
. PDA article does NOT mention Conyers.
. Carter stepped down from Baker/Carter in March.
. The no-link Conyers quote shows Conyers "concern" over Baker, not support

[librechik]

15. Everyone read this post--BIG CON JOB, FOLKS!

Festivito is right!

http://rawstory.com/exclusives/alexandrovna/carter_baker_electoral_reform_controversy_414.htm

rawstory has more at link--we've been NEOCONNED!

[cyberpj]

18. NOT TRUE - this is NOT a con job - you've misunderstood the post.

CONYERS AND PDA ARE SUPPORTING THIS COALITION - The Coalition is calling for the Baker/Carter Comission to include the long list of recommendations!

(Washington, D.C.) – Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) endorses a comprehensive list of recommendations for the Baker/Carter Election Commission put together by a coalition of pro-Democracy organizations. The coalition, led by Progressive Democrats of America, Velvet Revolution, Code PINK, Global Exchange, Hip-Hop Caucus, and United Progressives for Democracy is calling for the B/C Commission to recommend the following to Congress:

Here are the Conyers and PDA page links:

http://www.conyersblog.us/

http://www.pdamerica.org/articles/alliances/voting-rights.php#recommend

[Festivito]

19. ..don't think it was meant as a con, just easily misread. Thanks.

Conyers agrees more with the other groups than he agrees with Baker/ex-Carter commission.

It is ihe correct usage of "to" in this DU thread title but, an overly quick read can leave a extremely wrong impression. For this, it certainly could be a big con job.

We'll have a little extra work to do on this possibly most important topic to our country.

[cyberpj]

17. Conyers' support is shown on his blog -

http://www.conyersblog.us/

[leftchick]

14. I WANT BAKER THE FIXER OFF THAT COMMISSION!

Do ya hear me Jimmy?

[cyberpj]

16. THIS POST IS TRUE - Be careful not to misread it. Details here:

It appears that some of you may have misread the intention. Conyers and PDA et al are NOT happy with the Baker/Carter Commission -- they want to determine if there is any room for their participation and their list of issues that I will repeat with this post.

I felt obliged to reaffirm the original post because I have followed and trusted Kevin's posts here for some time and also because I wanted to make sure anyone else picking up on this thread from the Greatest page would know that the information is correct.

Kevin at PDA posted correct information.
==============================================================

Conyers HAS thrown support behind the coalition that includes PDA and others who object to the Baker/Carter Commission.

Conyers blog on this is here:

Saturday, April 16th, 2005
Baker-Carter Commission Cont'd
Conyers Endorses Voting Recommendations of Election Reform Coalition Led By Progressive Dems of America

http://www.conyersblog.us/
============================

The PDA page on this same topic is here but does not include Conyers' name most likely because it was posted before April 16th, when the Conyers blog posted his support of the PDA effort.

http://www.pdamerica.org/articles/alliances/voting-rights.php#recommend

Given everything that has happened, and the manifest work left to be done on this issue, the recent creation of the James Baker/Jimmy Carter Election Commission has caused our coalition a great deal of concern. Because of the questionable motivations and dubious background of some prominent members of this Commission, we are not at all confident they will generate recommendations that specifically address the voter disenfranchisement and potential fraud witnessed in both 2000 and 2004. We are likewise not at all confident this Commission as presently comprised will complete its work with positive solutions for the serious and growing problems that undermine the basic underpinnings of American participatory democracy.

Working together, the coalition has come up with a basic list of recommendations the Commission should propose for fixing our broken election systems:

Constitutional right to vote for all citizens, without exception
Paper ballots as the official record of all votes cast
Open source code for all machines used to count and/or tabulate the votes
Independent analysis of all voting machine software and hardware before and after elections
Unified national standards for national elections
No vote machine company executive or employee involvement in campaign work for any candidate
Random audit of 10% of elections
10-day period for voting
Election day registration
Voter identification by any official form of identification
Independent non-partisan administration and multi-partisan observation of elections
Voting rights restoration to convicted felons
No computer networking of vote machines
Publicly financed elections for federal offices and free access to public airwaves to all candidates
Fair ballot access laws and access to debates for all candidates and parties
Federal holiday for national elections
Instant Run-off Voting and Proportional Representation
Equal protection for voting rights nationwide
Augmentation and reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act

[stepnw1f]

20. Puting the Fix in?

I don't much yet, however I have heard there are some really sketchy folks riding this wave. My concern is they are riding this wave to wipe out efforts for honest change. Knowing that Baker helped screw the 2000 election, makes me extremely suspicious.