Progressive Politics Reforming the political arena. Capitol Corruption Panel s Demise Angers Watchdogs Cuomo s Push to End Moreland Commission Draws Backlash By JESSE McKINLEY and THOMAS KAPLANMARCH 31, 2014 NY Times
Boss Tweed The King of Tammany Hall Ran NY State & NYC from 1866 to 1871 Stole between 30 200 to million dollars From New York State and New York City.
That s ONE BILLION $ FIVE $ HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS TODAY!
Thomas Nast Famed political cartoonist. Known for the and the, not to mention. elephant Santa donkey 500,000 take a trip Offered $ by Tweed to - He declined.
Rod Blagojevich former governor of Illinois
Near Tears, Crooked Congressman Quits Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy and tax charges. He admitted taking $2.4 million in bribes in a case that grew from an investigation into the sale of his home to a wide-ranging conspiracy involving payments in cash, vacations and antiques. Appearing close to tears, Cunningham said today: "I cannot undo what I have done but I can atone." U.S. Attorney Carol Lam said: "He did the worst thing an elected official can do -- he enriched himself through his position." Monday, November 28, 2005; Posted: 4:28 p.m. EST (21:28 GMT)
Near Tears, Crooked Congressman Quits A former Louisiana congressman who famously stashed cash in his freezer was sentenced Friday to 13 years in prison for taking hundreds of thousands in bribes in exchange for using his influence to broker business deals in Africa. Agents investigating the case found $90,000 wrapped in foil and hidden in boxes of frozen pie crusts in his freezer. Jefferson said nothing in court after he was sentenced. He was convicted in August of 11 counts, including bribery and racketeering. Prosecutors at his two-month trial said he took roughly $500,000 in bribes and sought millions more. He was acquitted of five other charges, including the one most closely associated with the money in his freezer. November 13, 2009, ABCnews.com
Direct Democracy
Recall - A special election that allows voters to remove an elected official from office. A signed petition is needed to start the process. Eighteen states permit the recall of state officials: Alaska Arizona California Colorado Georgia Idaho Kansas Louisiana Michigan Minnesota Montana Nevada New Jersey North Dakota Oregon Rhode Island Washington Wisconsin
California, 2003
Initiative - Voters can put a bill directly on the ballot, or before the state legislature if enough people signed a petition in favor of the bill.
Referendum The legislature puts forth a bill and the voters decide whether a certain bill or constitutional amendment should be passed.
NY State and Referendum In 1999, Governor George Pataki in his first State of the State address called for the establishment of the initiative and referendum process, however, the state legislature wasn t interested in supporting establishing the process. In 2002, Pataki once again called for the legislature to pass a constitutional amendment establishing the initiative and referendum process. The proposal was strongly supported by the state s Independence Party, Conservative Party and Republican Party. In April, the New York Senate passed the initiative amendment with only three dissenting votes. However, as of the writing of this history, the State Assembly had not acted on the Governor s proposal. This state history is based on research found in David Schmidt's book, Citizen Lawmakers: The Ballot Initiative Revolution.
Robert La Follette
Robert LaFollette - Elected Governor of Wisconsin in 1900. The will of the people shall be the law of the land. His push for progressive reforms became known as the Wisconsin Idea. It served as a model for other states who elected progressive governors. LaFollette wanted RR reform; lobby reform; bank reform; and primary. Progressive citizens began to push for reforms to give voters more POWER!
Primary 1st state - Wisconsin in 1903. (S.C. - 1896) Instead of political party leaders choosing candidates, a primary is held before the election. VOTERS NOW CHOOSE THEIR PARTY CANDIDATE.
Amendment XVII (the Seventeenth Amendment) of the United States Constitution ratified on April 8, 1913 and first in effect for the election of 1914, amends Article 1 Section 3 of the Constitution to provide for the direct election of Senators by the people of a state rather than their election or appointment by a state legislature.
The Federal Income Tax Progressives demanded ways for the government to raise adequate sums of money properly run the country. Tariffs and sales tax alone were not enough. A push began for a GRADUATED INCOME TAX. This means that larger incomes are taxed at a higher rate than smaller incomes. When the Supreme Court ruled that an income tax was unconstitutional, the government found their way around the problem. ENTER the proposed Sixteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. When ratified in 1913 it gave power to Congress to collect a tax based on individual income. This is now the main source of federal revenue. P.S. - Corporations and businesses must pay taxes too. However, many times the government offers them an exemption. Who do you think makes up for the short fall? You guessed it. The American people.