Action of the Week - A Simple But Powerful Action You Can Take

Questions / Comments / Corrections, contact Brian Beihl, Deputy Director

-  Updated Feb 3, 2021 -

This week's Action: 

Calls to NH House Members to overturn ITL of HB 428

As we told you two weeks ago, HB 428 (please read before calling) was voted ITL in House Election Law.   Along with SB 90, HB 428 took steps to ensure that the Special Committee on Redistricting did its work in public.  Its provisions include:

• All meetings and work sessions are in public  (not what happened in 2011!)
• Criteria for mapping must be public  (not shared in 2011)
• Testimony from stakeholders, including municipal official affected by "communities of interest"
• One public hearing in each county  (had been done in prior years)
• Release plans 30 days before the in-county hearings   (House maps only were available to the public 24 hours in advance)
• Final plans released 7 days before the vote
• All data and plans must be public  (public never saw what data was used in addition to population data in 2011)
• You may get push back that the Special Committee meets in public due to rule 91A governing public meetings.  That was in effect in 2011, too, but didn't prevent a handful of people from drawing the maps behind closed doors with unknown criteria.  All it takes is to retreat to the Speaker's office, where 91A rules don't apply.  That's why HB 428 is necessary.

We're asking you to call your reps and ask them to overturn the Inexpedient to Legislate recommendation and pass the bill on the floor in April.  First, look up your reps here at the NH GenCourt website.  We've also created a phone scripts to help, with one script or Republicans and one for Democrats. Please report the results of conversations in an email to Olivia Zink.

If you did this action and want to do more, consider joining an Open Democracy Team.   Our six regional teams are briefed each week for an hour and given 1-3 actions each week, but with more learning and strategy involved.   Actions include writing letters to legislators, letters to the editor, working with your local election officials on issues, calling your state reps and senators, and fun actions like this signs, walks, parades and festivals.   You can choose your level of commitment, but you'll be a smarter, more engaged, more powerful citizen as a result!  Check it out

We're combining two of our favorite actvities:   Singing and Social Action!

Announcing the 2020 Campaign Finance Corruption Chorus, sponsored by Open Democracy Action.   Our mission will be to sing "Corruption Carols" at campaign events in the last few weeks of the  2020 New Hampshire Primary, as well as carolling around Manchester where the national and international press hangs out.  

This will be a relaxed and FUN group with a humorous yet powerful message.    We're still working out the attire, but thinking we'll have matching warm hats and maybe scarves which will be provided to our singers. 

RSVP your interest by filling out the form below.   We're hoping to have our first rehearsal shortly.  

Thank you and hope to hear you soon!

Brian Beihl

Deputy Director, Open Democracy Action

603-620-8300

It's not good enough to complain.   Our Republic is in peril, and it's time for you to take action on Democracy reforms.   Big Money politics is standing in the way of advances the voters want in healthcare, environment, tax reform, education and energy.   Until we fix it, we can't break the gridlock!

Here's how you can take action!

Join a NH Regional Democracy Team! 

Be a Birddogger!

Call your State legislators!

Write a letter to the editor!  (Coming soon!

Thanks for considering being part of an Open Democracy Action Regional Democracy Team here in New Hampshire.   If you are outside of New Hampshire, there are other ways for you to help, but our regional teams are working in their towns and neighborhoods here in the Granite State only.

Open Democracy Action just launched its Regional Democracy Teams in November of 2019, and we're still sorting out the infrastructure and mission.   Your voice is important at this critical time as each team decides what activities are best within each region.       

Go to the Regional Democracy Teams sign-up page

Our organization, founded by New Hampshire campaign finance reformer Doris "Granny D" Haddock, who at 89 years old in 1999, set off on a walk across the United States to raise the alarm of how our campaign finance system was creating a system of legal bribery, particularly at the federal level.   She was a critical part of kindling nationwide support for the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill, which passed in 2002.   Granny D died in 2010, but unfortunately lived to see the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, which rendered her work for McCain-Feingold moot.  But Granny D remains a hero, not just here in New Hampshire, but for reformers all over the country, for showing what one ordinary person can do to make change.

Our Regional Democracy Teams will work around their areas on a variety of activities, but all of it related to strengthening our Democracy:

• Exhibiting at local fairs and festivals
• Walking or doing street theater in parades (We've done "SuperPAC Man" and "Senator Philmore Pockets" in past parades)
• Speaking to school, civic and religious groups about our issues
• Calling state reps when Democracy legislation is pending
• Writing letters to the editor in your area
• Talking with other activist groups, such as climate, pipeline, healthcare, or other groups which get blocked by Big Money interests.
• Hosting an annual Granny D Day walk on January 24th, or reading one of her speeches on the steps of your town hall.
• Do a screening of one of several money-in-politics movies at your local library
• and whatever else you can dream up to further our cause!

If you're ready to take action, go to our Regional Democracy Teams sign up page, confirm what region you're in, and sign up.   You'll be doing your part to help save our republic by getting our democracy back in the hands of the PEOPLE, not special interests or corporations.

As Granny D said, "Democracy isn't something we HAVE, it's something we DO!"

Time to Take Action!

News from Open Democracy Action

Open Democracy Action is a 501c4 nonprofit which works on campaign finance reform, getting Big Money out of politics through activism, supporting legislation, and lobbying lawmakers.

Our Monthly Newsletter, The Equal Voice

Read the latest issue of Equal Voice:  A Newsletter for those who Walk the Talk of Campaign Finance Reform, which includes news from Open Democracy Action and its sister organization, Open Democracy and its project NH Rebellion.   

Spring 2021 Equal Voice Newsletter in PDF

October 2020 Equal Voice Newsletter in PDF

June 2020 Equal Voice Newsletter in PDF

May 2020 Equal Voice Newsletter in PDF

April 2020 Equal Voice Newsletter in PDF

January 2020 Equal Voice Newsletter in PDF

December 2019 Equal Voice Newsletter in PDF

November 2019 Equal Voice Newsletter in PDF

October 2019 Equal Voice Newsletter in PDF

September 2019 Equal Voice Newsletter in PDF

Press Releases from Open Democracy Action

See our latest press statements regarding our activities and actions!

New Hampshire voters:

Are you tired of the corrosive power of money in politics?  Want to do something about gerrymandering and voter suppression?

This is where you do something about it.

Learn where your candidates and elected officials stand, and take action.