The 4th and 6th legislative districts in the Spokane area are both very important to getting a resolution passed this legislative session to ask our U.S Congress to draft a constitutional amendment to overturn the devastating effects of the Citizens United decision.   Senator Mike Padden is chair of the Law & Justice Committee and Rep. Matt Shea is on the House Judiciary Committee (both 4th LD legislators).

End Citizens United

Legislatures can be contacted here by email.  Or call them  at the Legislative Hotline at the Legislative Hotline 1.800.562.6000.  Please contact your legislators within the next day or two, the sooner the better, and give them the following message:

• “I am one of your constituents and I am very concerned about the corrupting role of money in our political system and the dramatic increase in this role as a direct result of the Citizens United decision.
•  I request that you support and, preferably, co-sponsor Senator Adam Klein’s and Representative Jamie Pedersen’s Memorial Resolution SJM 8002 requesting on behalf of Washington State citizens that the US Congress create and submit to the states for approval a constitutional amendment to overturn the effects of the Citizens United decision.
• Please notify Senator Klein and Representative Pedersen of your support for SJM 8002.

[Optionally, you might include a request for a reply:  “I would appreciate a reply from you indicating your position on this issue.”]

If you are further inclined, you can also contact the other senators on the Law and Justice Committee.

The best way to highlight our interest and concern is to actually call each legislator’s office using the Legislative Hotline 1.800.562.6000 and leave a brief message with the office staff.

Show them you care about our democracy!

Please vote YES on Prop 1 to allow independent investigations by the Spokane Police Ombudsman of the Spokane Police Department and its officers when citizen complaints are filed. If Prop 1 passed, it will amend the Spokane City Charter, and the authority for independent investigations by the Spokane Police Ombudsman could never be weakened by Spokane City Council votes or future police union contracts.

Prop 1: Give Independent Investigative Authority to the Spokane Police Ombudsman

This Charter Amendment will be up for a vote in Spokane’s Special Election. Ballots will be mailed to votes on Jan 24 & must be returned by Tuesday February 12. Please vote “yes” for Prop 1 for a strong Spokane Police Ombudsman.

Spokane Police Accountability and Reform Coalition (SPARC)

The Spokane Police Accountability and Reform Coalition has been fighting for years to protect people in Spokane County from excessive force and other abuses by law enforcement. A strong Spokane Police Ombudsman is crucial for meaningful civilian oversight, accountability, and the transparency of law enforcement agencies.  There is a long history of abuses by the Spokane Police Department.  Wrongful deaths, beatings, and violations of civil rights occur with little or no accountability to citizens and tax payers.   The Center for Justice website has some of the best investigative reporting  on the topic of the Spokane Police Ombudsman and has come out in support in of Proposition 1.

The Spokane Police Accountability and Reform Coalition (SPARC) meetings are open to all citizens. The Coalition meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 5:30pm at the Community Building, 35 W. Main St., in Spokane. Our Steering Committee meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at noon and is also open to all. These meeting locations which are subject to change. Please call 838-7870 for more information.