Category: SOUTH JERSEY

Starting March 1st The Sounds of the 80\’s at the Hard Rock in Atlantic City

Atlantic City, N.J. (February 12, 2020)

–  Step out of your DeLorean time machine and into Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City for

80’s LIVE,

a revved up high-energy live-on-stage concert production show taking you back on a fun nostalgic romp through the greatest hits of the 1980s.

The creators of

Motor City Live

and

Disco Live

invite you to see, hear and feel the decade

’

s most beloved and enduring music taking center stage Sundays at 7 p.m. in Sound Waves in Hard Rock Atlantic City beginning on March 1.

The tribute features an accomplished cast of singers, dancers and musicians, eye-catching costumes, and stunning choreography from the 80

’

s era.

“

80’

s LIVE

is a highly entertaining nostalgic feel good production that ignites images and remembrances of a decade when the music, lyrics, and driving beats electrified a generation,” said producer Allen Valentine.

Featuring the music of Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, Prince, Aerosmith, Wham, INXS, Duran Duran, Paula Abdul, plus many more,

80s LIVE

will transport those who witnessed it, back to the moment when they first heard these songs pumping through their boomboxes.

80’s LIVE

is produced by Allen Valentine. Jill Reed choreographed the show and Linda Voermans is the creative manager. The musical director is Arland Gilliam and costume design by Kristine Valentine.

Tickets for

80’

’

s LIVE

are $20 and will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Monday, February 17. For more information or to purchase tickets in advance, see

hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com

.

McWilliams sparks Ramapo past Rutgers-Camden men

MAHWAH, N.J. (Feb. 12, 2020) – The Ramapo College men’s basketball team received 26 points from senior center Rob McWilliams to lead four players in double figures as it pulled away from Rutgers University-Camden, 74-54, in a New Jersey Athletic

Conference game here Wednesday night.

Ramapo improves to 14-9 overall and 10-6 in the NJAC with its 10th straight win over Rutgers-Camden. The Roadrunners lead the all-time series, 53-15.

The Scarlet Raptors fall to 7-16 overall and 5-11 in the NJAC.

In a tight first half, the teams traded several leads and were tied at 24-24 when a three-pointer by McWilliams gave the Roadrunners the lead for good. Ramapo scored 15 of the last 22 points in the half on the way to a 39-31 advantage at the break. McWilliams had 16 points at the break to lead all scorers, while his teammate, senior guard Connor Romano, added 12. Rutgers-Camden received 14 first-half points from senior forward/center

Isaac Destin.

In the second half, the closest Rutgers-Camden came was six points (43-37 and 45-39) as Ramapo led by double digits most of the way. The final 20-point margin was the biggest of the game for the Roadrunners.

McWilliams shot 12-for-21 from the floor on his way to 26 points, while adding nine rebounds. Senior forward Jordan Zagadou added 14 point and four blocks for the Roadrunners, while Roman finished with 12 and sophomore center Jordan Battle added 10. Battle also had five assists to tie the Raptors’ junior guard

Arian Azemi

for game-high honors.

Junior guard Marquise Kindel had a game-high 17 rebounds for Ramapo, which dominated the boards, 45-24.

Destin notched 20 points and six rebounds for the Scarlet Raptors, shooting 9-for-10 from the floor. He also had six rebounds and two blocked shots.

Azemi added 10 points for Rutgers-Camden.

The Raptors shot 20-for-54 (37.0 percent) from the floor, while the Roadrunners went 30-for-59 (50.8).

Rutgers-Camden returns home for a 3 p.m. NJAC game Saturday against New Jersey City University. The Scarlet Raptors will celebrate Senior Day, when they honor Destin, their lone senior.

Letters to Aunt Hattie Event February 22

Burlington County Freeholder Director Felicia Hopson announced today that the Women’s Advisory Council is hosting an event to celebrate 100 years of women’s suffrage. The year 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing and protecting women’s constitutional right to vote.

“The performance, Letters to Aunt Hattie, celebrates women’s suffrage as well as the contribution of African-American women to the movement,” said Freeholder Director Felicia Hopson. “This one-woman show is truly inspirational and allows us to reflect on and appreciate the legacies of women like Harriet Forten Purvis and Charlotte Forten Grimke who shaped the women’s rights movement.”

The event will be held on Saturday, February 22 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Burlington County Library Auditorium on Pioneer Blvd. in Westampton. It is free and open to the public.

The play is written and performed by Gilletta McGraw based on the real-life activists Harriet Forten Purvis and Charlotte Forten Grimke.

Charlotte Forten, a young, bright student, begins writing letters to her favorite aunt, Aunt Hattie. Through these letters, Charlotte shares her thoughts during her studies and learns about some of the monumental accomplishments of the women in her family. During their back-and-forth correspondence, Charlotte grows in her activism and dedication to serve the oppressed and fight for equality.

Additionally, Harriet Forten Purvis was an African-American abolitionist and first-generation suffragist. With her mother and sisters, she formed the first biracial women’s abolitionist group, the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society, which was the first biracial women’s abolitionist group. She also hosted anti-slavery events at her home and bravely ran an Underground Railroad station, and fought against Segregation.

“This is just one of the events that the Council will be hosting this year to celebrate 100 years of women’s suffrage,” concluded Freeholder Hopson. “We hope that everyone will join us. The anniversary gives us the opportunity to recognize those who have made a difference in history and empower younger generations.”

The Burlington County Women’s Advisory Council works to identify and address issues that affect women in Burlington County, raise public awareness of the special needs and roles of women, provide mentoring opportunities for women, and enhance the quality of life for all women. For more information follow the Council on Facebook at @BurlingtonCountyWomen or visit: http://co.burlington.nj.us/263/Womens-Advisory-Council

Derek Sprague Named 2020 United States Junior Ryder Cup Team Captain

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla.

(Feb. 13, 2020)

–

The PGA of America has named PGA Past President Derek Sprague, PGA as the Captain of the 2020 United States Junior Ryder Cup Team. The United States will face Team Europe in the 12th Junior Ryder Cup at Blue Mound Golf and Country Club near Milwaukee, Sept. 21-22.

A 2019 inductee into the PGA of America Hall of Fame, Sprague is the General Manager of TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, where he has served since 2017. He previously was the Managing Director of Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey and oversaw the club’s preparation for the 2017 Presidents Cup. For 27 years prior, Sprague was the General Manager and Director of Golf at Malone (New York) Golf Club.

In 2019, he captained the United States PGA Cup Team to a stirring comeback victory over Great Britain & Ireland.

Through Sprague’s leadership as PGA President from 2014-16, the PGA was instrumental in growing the game through player development and youth programs, such as PGA Jr. League and the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship. In addition, he co-chaired the Ryder Cup Task Force, which created a long-term blueprint for success in the event. Sprague also served the Association as PGA Honorary President, PGA Vice President and PGA Secretary.

The American team is vying for its seventh straight victory in the biennial competition with Europe, and the United States holds an overall record of 7-3-1 in the event. Among the Junior Ryder Cup alumni are major champions, PGA Tour players and LPGA Tour players including: Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Hunter Mahan, Tony Finau, Lexi Thompson, Alison Lee and Brittany Altomare of the United States; and Rory McIlroy, Sergio Garcia, Nicolas Colsaerts, Suzann Pettersen, Emily Pedersen and Carlota Ciganda of Europe. The European Team recently named 1999 U.S. Open Champion Paul Lawrie as its Captain.

The U.S. Team will feature six boys and six girls who are U.S. citizens and members of the high school graduating class of 2021, or younger. All potential players must compete in the 2020 Girls or Boys Junior PGA Championship to be eligible unless exceptional circumstances prevent the player from competing. There will be 10 players who qualify as exemptions and two Captain’s picks. The final U.S. Junior Ryder Cup Team will be announced by the PGA of America on Monday, Aug. 3, following the 45th Girls Junior PGA Championship.

“It is a great honor to represent the United States and captain a team of the finest junior golfers in our country,” said Sprague. “I look forward to our team competing against Europe’s top players, led by their distinguished Captain Paul Lawrie, in this special international event.”

The idea for the Junior Ryder Cup came about in 1995, when a team of Europeans, including Sergio Garcia, played an informal exhibition match against the Central New York PGA Section and area juniors. Two years later, the Junior Ryder Cup was formally introduced as an event, at Alcaidesa Links Golf Course, in Cadiz, Spain, and won by the United States, 7-5.

The United States captured the 2018 Junior Ryder Cup at Disneyland Paris 12 1/2 to 11 1/2 for its sixth consecutive victory.

For more information on the Junior Ryder Cup, visit

JuniorPGAChampionship.com/junior-ryder-cup

or contact Championship Manager Trenton Blundell, PGA at (561) 624-8490.

Third-quarter run lifts Rutgers-Camden women

MAHWAH, N.J (Feb. 12, 2020) – The Rutgers University-Camden women’s basketball team went on a 23-11 run in the third quarter, overcoming a one-point halftime deficit, and went on to defeat Ramapo College, 64-55, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game here Wednesday night.

The Scarlet Raptors improve to 12-11 overall and 5-11 in the NJAC with their sixth straight win over the Roadrunners. Rutgers-Camden leads the all-time series, 42-22.

Ramapo falls to 9-14 overall and 3-13 in the NJAC with its fifth consecutive defeat.

Ramapo built a 20-17 lead after one quarter and stretched it to 24-17 before the Scarlet Raptors scored 11 of the last 16 points of the half, cutting their deficit to 29-28 at the break. Junior guard

Shane Holmes

scored 11 first-half points for Rutgers-Camden, while Ramapo was paced by 12 points from senior guard Samantha Rinaldi.

After Ramapo freshman guard Bridgett Cahill scored the first field goal of the third quarter, Raptor freshman guard

Taylor Martin

tied the game with a three-pointer. The teams traded leads until the game was tied at 34-34, when Rutgers-Camden took the lead for good on back-to-back three-pointers by senior guard

Fatimah Williams,

making it a 40-34 game.

After Ramapo cut the gap to 40-38, Martin and Holmes canned treys to give Rutgers-Camden a 46-38 lead. By the end of the third quarter, the Scarlet Raptors held a 51-40 lead and Ramapo never came closer than nine points the rest of the way. The Raptors led by as many as 18 points (62-44) late in the final quarter.

Williams finished with a double-double of 24 points and 11 rebounds, while adding three steals. All of those totals were game highs, while she added four assists.

Holmes netter 17 points and added a game-high five assists, while Martin finished with nine points. Freshman center

Kayla Newton

had five points and six rebounds.

Ramapo received 17 points from Rinaldi.

The Roadrunners held a 41-38 edge off the boards and had five fewer turnovers (18-13) than the Scarlet Raptors, but Rutgers-Camden shot 23-for-56 (41.1 percent) from the floor, including 12-for-26 (46.2) from three-point range. Williams and Holmes made four treys apiece, while Martin added three and freshman guard

Najee Seabrook

canned one on her only shot of the game.

Ramapo shot 21-for-61 (34.4) from the floor, including only 4-for-20 (20.0) from three-point range.

Rutgers-Camden returns to NJAC action on Saturday with a Senior Day NJAC home game against New Jersey City University. Prior to the 1 p.m. game, the Scarlet Raptors will honor Williams, their lone senior.

Kratom for Pain Relief

Gloucestercitynews.net (February 13, 2020)–It is unfortunate that some of us have encountered accidents at some point in our lives. In some cases, we are blessed enough for the accident to not inflict any major injury. Sometimes, the injury is incessant enough to linger for longer than anyone would want it to be. Medications, too, seem to cease to

credit unsplash.com

provide any evident relief.

One feels utterly hopeless when even medical science has nothing to offer for a problem so troublesome. But, nature has a remedy for every crisis mankind faces. Its vast storehouse of herbs and shrubs are the answer to possibly every physical malady human faces. One such herb is Kratom. Kratom, or Mitragyna Speciosa, as it is called in the scientific community, is a native plant predominant in Thailand. It has been used for its medical applications since the nineteenth century. Kratom works very efficiently for pain relief. A study conducted on 10,000 Americans concluded that a staggering 68% of them used Kratom for self-treatment of pain. Here, we explain the pain-relieving properties and a bit about the

best Kratom for pain relief

. Read on!

The high concentration of Alkaloids

Humans experience pain due to the presence of pain receptors that travel to the brain. Kratom has a naturally high concentration of alkaloids. These alkaloids dull the pain receptors which results in an evident decrease in the pain a person is experiencing. Thus, no matter how old the pain is, kratom shows its effectiveness by attacking the very base of origin of pain. Maeng Da Kratom literally translates to \’pimp grade\’ kratom, which is suggestive of its very strong reserve of alkaloids.

Promotes the production of Serotonin and Dopamine

One of the curious effects of kratom is the enhanced production of Serotonin and Dopamine in the body. The initial of these neurotransmitters regulate a person\’s mood while the following elevates the feeling of happiness. This helps a great deal in chronic pain as it is often accompanied by persistent depression and anxiety. This also helps in coping with long lingering pain. Besides, it is always a good idea to be a bit more cheerful and happy.

Richness in Mitragynine

Kratom is known to be very rich in Mitragynine. Mitragynine is an alkaloid that has excellent anti-inflammatory properties. This is very effective in muscle stiffness, and therefore, is a terrific pain reliever. This is additionally effective in diseases such as fibromyalgia, arthritis and rheumatism, etc. Mitragynine is also known to produce euphoric and stimulating effects on the human body.

Helpful in managing Diabetic neuropathic pain

A lesser-known impact of kratom is its ability to control blood sugar levels. Pain is one of the leading consequences of diabetic neuropathy. Controlling blood sugar levels can be a bit tricky for a person who cherishes food. An unstable diet can result in blood sugar spikes which can be dangerous in several cases. Research has proven that alkaloids in kratom help in regulating insulin production and thus, control the amount of glucose in the blood. This helps in preventing sudden rises or troughs that diabetics face.

Non-harmful pain-relieving perks of opioids

There are multiple medical conditions where opiates are used to counter pain afflicted in the body. But, there are multiple side effects of opiates such as addiction, dependence, respiratory dependence, etc. Kratom can be used to derive all the positive pain-relieving perks of opioids while ruling out the potential negative effects it can impart in a human. Kratom can be used without the suspicion of unaccounted ill effects.

Increases energy levels

Excessive pain can reduce the circulation of blood and energy levels as well. Kratom optimizes specific metabolic processes and rebuilds energy levels and increases circulation, fighting the sensation of pain. This is exceptionally useful for the physically active workers as the grievance of low circulation and energy levels is commonly heard from them.

Conclusion

Kratom has been traditionally used for assistance with pain and distress. It comes loaded with natural antioxidants. Whether it is acute or chronic pain, it can help in managing both of them. While using chemical painkillers may introduce a number of side effects, such as nausea, dependence, etc, kratom is a safe and effective way of confronting pain. Tried and tested, Kratom is one of the best alternatives at your disposal to counter and cope with any kind of pain or discomfort you wish to get rid of.

Curtis Miller and Ryan Wilkins Guilty of Murder

Curtis Miller (L) and Ryan Wilkins (R) taken in 2018

Camden City, N.J. (February 13, 2020)–– Two men were found guilty Feb. 12 in the November 2018 fatal shooting of 18-year-old Thomas Reyes in Camden, according to Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer and Camden County Police Chief Joseph D. Wysocki.

Brothers Curtis Miller, 26, and Ryan Wilkins, 24, both of Camden, were found guilty by a jury of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, accomplice to murder, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose in connection with the murder of Thomas Reyes.

The trial for both defendants began Jan, 7; the jury reached their verdict after two days of deliberation. Acting Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Spittal represented the State at trial.

Camden County Police officers initially found Reyes suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the 1000 block of Carl Miller Blvd. in Camden Nov. 20, 2018 after a ShotSpotter activation went off. He was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

The extensive investigation was led by Detective James Brining of the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office along with Sgt. Gordon Harvey and Detective Shawn Donlon of the Camden County Police Department.

The team tracked down surveillance footage that captured the defendants fleeing the scene of the homicide in a vehicle they later abandoned on a nearby street. Additional surveillance footage showed the defendants discarding their clothing as they continued to run from the area.

During the trial, Agent William Shute of the Federal Bureau of Investigation testified cell phone records placed Miller in the area at the time of the homicide.

Spittal also presented evidence that showed that Miller contacted the registered vehicle owner after the shooting and told them to report the vehicle stolen.  Further testimony revealed that the clothing that was discarded by Curtis Miller tested positive for gunshot residue.

Miller and Wilkins face a minimum of 30 years to a maximum of life behind bars. They’re scheduled for sentencing March 26, 2020 before the Honorable Judge Gwendolyn Blue.

NJ American Water Plans Infrastructure Work in Beverly

CAMDEN CITY, N.J. – FEB. 12, 2020 –

New Jersey American Water

will replace approximately 5,100 feet of aging water main in Beverly beginning next week. The project also includes replacing five fire hydrants and 114 utility-owned service lines along the pipeline route. The company will upgrade the aging water lines, installed as far back as the 1930s and as small as four inches in diameter, with new, larger ductile iron main along the following streets:

Laurel Street

from Front Street to Railroad Avenue

Putnam Street

from Laurel Street to Cooper Street

Spruce Street

from Putnam Street to Railroad Avenue

Pine Street

from Laurel Street and Spruce Street

This $800,000 investment will continue to advance water service reliability and increase water flows for household consumption and fire protection in this community. This improvement is part of New Jersey American Water’s multimillion-dollar initiative to accelerate the

renewal of water infrastructure

that has reached the end of its useful life in more than 100 communities across the state.

New Jersey American Water’s local, qualified contractor, Pioneer Pipe Contractors, Inc., will begin work on or about Feb. 17 and expects to finish by the end of April, weather permitting. Work hours will be from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Work outside of these hours is not expected unless required to maintain project schedule. Final street restorations will be completed in the summer of 2020.

For the public’s and workers’ safety, traffic restrictions and/or alternating traffic patterns are likely to occur during work hours. All emergency vehicles and local traffic will be allowed access during construction. New Jersey American Water values the safety of its workers and advises drivers and pedestrians to take caution in the vicinity of work sites.

About New Jersey American Water

New Jersey American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 2.7 million people. For more information, visit

www.newjerseyamwater.com

and follow New Jersey American Water on

Twitter

and

Facebook

.

About American Water

With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 7,100 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to more than 14 million people in 46 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to make sure we keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit

amwater.com

Majority Say Houston Astros Players Involved in Cheating Should Be Held Accountable

Research Also Finds Strong Support for Strengthening Whistleblower Programs While Most Say Leadership Punishments Will Motivate Culture Change

Arlington, Va., February 11, 2020 – As Major League Baseball (MLB) pitchers and catchers report to spring training this week, new research finds that the overwhelming majority of Americans believe that the players involved in the Houston Astros cheating scandal should be punished for their actions. Ninety percent of Americans say that players on the team who broke the rules should be punished. There was a slight variation among gender, with 94 percent of women in agreement and 86 percent of men in agreement.

On the issue of holding Astros leadership accountable, less than half (48 percent) of Americans say the punishments handed down to leadership will result in changing player behavior. But, 74 percent say that the leadership punishments indeed will motivate changes to the organizational culture that enabled the cheating.

When it comes to the role of whistleblowers in outing bad behavior, 86 percent of Americans are in favor of employers strengthening whistleblower programs to encourage early identification of problems.

These findings are from a national poll of Americans conducted by

Eagle Hill Consulting

on the heels of one of the biggest scandals to hit professional baseball in more than 100 years. After a whistleblower account was

published

by the news media, MLB investigated an extensive cheating scandal by the Houston Astros that determined the rules violations were “player-driven and player-executed.” Yet,

punishments

were levied by MLB only against team management and leadership. No players were punished for breaking the rules as part of a deal to encourage players to disclose what happened.

“The results show that Americans understand that it’s critically important to hold both leadership and employees accountable for unethical actions. Whether in sports or business, just holding leadership accountable may not correct employee bad behavior,” said

Melissa Jezior

, Eagle Hill president and CEO.

Part of MLB’s rationale for the punishments was that the scandal stemmed from a failure by the leaders “to adequately manage the employees under their supervision, to establish a culture in which adherence to the rules is ingrained in the fabric of the organization, and to stop bad behavior as soon as it occurred.”

“Leadership ultimately is accountable for a toxic culture that allows bad behavior, and it is leadership’s responsibility to right the ship. The difficult task leaders face, however, is aligning the stated culture with the day-to-day behavior of employees. Culture can be measured and managed – from incorporating it into performance reviews to fostering an environment where employees can report problematic behaviors before they escalate and permeate the organization. Otherwise, organizational culture failures can result in financial losses and reputation damage, a lesson the Astros learned the hard way,”Jezior said.

The polling research found that:

Nearly all (90 percent) of Americans polled say that players who broke the rules should be punished

Only 48 percent believe that holding leadership accountable for player bad behavior will result in correcting the behavior.

Nearly three-fourths (74 percent) indicate that punishments will motivate leaders to change the organizational culture that enabled cheating.

The vast majority (86 percent) say that employers should strengthen whistleblower programs to encourage early identification of problems.

The survey was conducted online on January 30-31, 2020, and included more than 1,000 respondents from a random sample of American adults across the United States.

“Leadership ultimately is accountable for a toxic culture that allows bad behavior, and it is leadership’s responsibility to right the ship. The difficult task leaders face, however, is aligning the stated culture with the day-to-day behavior of employees. Culture can be measured and managed – from incorporating it into performance reviews to fostering an environment where employees can report problematic behaviors before they escalate and permeate the organization. Otherwise, organizational culture failures can result in financial losses and reputation damage, a lesson the Astros learned the hard way,”Jezior said.

The polling research found that:

Nearly all (90 percent) of Americans polled say that players who broke the rules should be punished

Only 48 percent believe that holding leadership accountable for player bad behavior will result in correcting the behavior.

Nearly three-fourths (74 percent) indicate that punishments will motivate leaders to change the organizational culture that enabled cheating.

The vast majority (86 percent) say that employers should strengthen whistleblower programs to encourage early identification of problems.

The survey was conducted online on January 30-31, 2020, and included more than 1,000 respondents from a random sample of American adults across the United States.

Eagle Hill Consulting LLC is a woman-owned business that provides unconventional management consulting services in the areas of Strategy & Performance, Talent, and Change. The company’s expertise in delivering innovative solutions to unique challenges spans across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, from financial services to healthcare to media & entertainment. Eagle Hill has offices in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, Boston, MA and Seattle, WA. More information is available at

www.eaglehillconsulting.com

.

2nd District Democrat Candidate Wants to Change Electoral College

[February 13, 2020 – Longport, New Jersey] –

In an article published yesterday in the NJ Globe, entitled, “

Democrats Who Signed No-Line Pledge Still Seeking Line

,” David Wildstein reported on the contradiction that four of the five candidates for Congress in New Jersey\’s second congressional district have signed a promise to “end the county line,” yet have continued to seek the Atlantic County Democratic line at the same time.

Brigid Callahan Harrison

The story stated that the pledge, did not “appear to have any teeth” and specifically sited candidate Amy Kennedy for seeking and winning the endorsement of the Atlantic City Democratic organization, and Ashley Bennett, who previously ran on the line for freeholder three years ago, with both also currently pursuing votes to obtain the line at Atlantic County Convention on March 8.

Brigid Callahan Harrison, the only candidate who did not sign the pledge, issued today the following detailed policy statement on

Electoral Reform and Clear Election Policy

:

The right of the people to freely and fairly decide who will represent their interests is the foundation upon which our democracy rests. But Washington DC’s culture of corruption is eating away at that foundation, and as a member of Congress from New Jersey’s second congressional district, I will prioritize several measures that will take power away from the rich and well-connected and return it to where it belongs – in the hands of the people.

I recently met with End Citizens United, a group of over 4 million members who champion electoral reform. During my meeting with them, I discussed my vision for electoral reform and clean elections. My reform agenda includes the following:

End

Citizens United

Chief among the ways we can return some power to the people is amending our constitution to overturn

Citizens United,

which essentially granted corporations and other monied interests the same rights as citizens. I believe that Congress and the states must work to amend the constitution by ratifying the Democracy for All Amendment, which grants Congress and the States the power to regulate and set reasonable limits on the raising and spending of money by candidates and others to influence elections.

Strengthen the Federal Election Commission

Another key aspect of keeping elections clean is through supporting the Federal Election Commission, the agency charged with enforcing our nation’s campaign finance laws. The FEC has essentially been stripped of its authority because half of the seats on the board remain unfilled during the Trump administration, rendering the board unable to function without a quorum. Any electoral reforms should statutorily mandate that, if vacancies on the FEC remain unfilled by a presidential administration for longer than 90 days, the presidential appointment is forfeited and the chair of the House Ethics Committee is empowered to appoint FEC Board members. I support increasing the ability of the FEC to enforce laws already on the books by providing the FEC with the resources it has been denied.

I will work to pass the Restoring Integrity to America’s Elections Act, which will strengthen the FEC’s ability to enforce current campaign finance laws.

Get Foreign Money Out of US Elections

I resolve to help keep foreign money out of US elections by supporting the Get Foreign Money Out of US Elections Act, which restricts the ability of foreign corporations to spend money in US election, and the DISCLOSE Act, which prohibits foreign interests from creating dark money organizations or shell corporations in order to influence US elections.

Greater Transparency

I would advocate for passage of the Keeping Our Campaigns Honest (KOCH) Act which requires that ads placed by dark money organizations must disclose their largest donors.

In Congress, I will support the Honest Ads Act, which would set the same standard for online political advertising as is currently required for television and radios ads.

We must make sure that our democracy remains in the people’s hands is by ensuring that the wealthy aren’t able to buy our democracy. We need to end the culture of corruption in Washington because for too long, the rich and well-connected have had disproportionate influence in our elections. That reality is in part responsible for the increasing anger and frustration that many Americans rightfully feel toward our government.