By Wambui Gatheru, Citizen Empowerment Coordinator (wambuig@americanpromise.net)
Boston, Massachusetts – December 21st, 2017 – People Govern, Not Money, the volunteer, citizen-led group working to place the 28th amendment on the Massachusetts ballot was successful! After 9 weeks of gathering over 100,000 signatures from voters of all 351 Massachusetts’ towns, these citizen leaders have given citizens of the Commonwealth the greatest holiday gift of all – a voice to change their democracy.
This initiative, set to hit the ballot in 2018, will be the first of its kind. It will establish a 15 member Citizens Commission that will research, take testimony and make recommendations to assist in the drafting, promoting and ratifying of the 28th Amendment. In short, it will give citizens a direct say in their democracy, not corporations or special interests. “This could well serve as a model for other states around the nation to replicate in 2020. We’re looking at potential in over a dozen more states to move forward with a 28th Amendment ballot initiative for the 2020 cycle” said Ben Gubits, associate director of American Promise.
Click here to help us win the 28th Amendment in other states!
“It’s really an extraordinary feeling of what is possible, of hope and optimism and the power of individual citizens to create change,” said Kim Wass, volunteer of People Govern, Not Money
Now, the 4.5 million Massachusetts voters will be able to lend their voice against the tyranny of big money and special interests in our elections.
“Americans across the political spectrum are not just sick and tired of corrupt money-driven politics, we are stepping up to fix it once and for all with the 28th Amendment to the Constitution,” said Jeff Clements, American Promise President. “This historic win shows what we can do when we come together, believe in the power of citizen leaders, and take action where we live.”
This is exactly how we will win the 28th Amendment all across the nation: through people-powered, citizen led action.
Click here to help us keep this people-powered action going!
This win in Massachusetts is a prime example of what happens when citizens work together to ensure that people govern, and not money.