Project Overview: Get Out the Soap for a Clean Judiciary

This team of five hails from the Bloomsburg University chapter of Common Cause's Democracy Matters. Campaign finance reform in the Pennsylvania judiciary is the focus of their proposal.

In their executive summary, the group writes:

"Campaign finance reform is becoming an increasingly important issue all across America, yet too often politicians are able to ignore the need for change because the public is unaware of the umbrella effect of this issue and the vehicles for change available to them.  Even more terrifying is the thought that in many states our judicial system is being influenced by campaign contributions through judicial elections.

Democracy Matters of Bloomsburg University, in collaboration with other youth organizations, requests $5,000 in an effort to educate and spread awareness about the current crisis confronting our court system by the influence of money in politics and, more specifically, the judiciary and the necessity for change.  Our project will entail a statewide grassroots initiative that will draw attention to these issues.  Progress towards these ends will be measured through collection of signatories in favor of campaign finance reform for the judicial system.  Eventually, we plan to progress toward statewide elected offices, as well as generally improved public awareness.  

Throughout the next year we will use this grant as seed money to continue our ongoing efforts to foster support for change in Pennsylvania that will eventually lead to additional monetary support and the passage of legislation."