By Tiffany Muller and Cindy Dach
June 4, 2021
(AZ Central) – In recent weeks, we’ve seen Arizona politicians advocate for an ineffective, unnecessary and politically motivated audit of Arizona’s 2020 election results – all while purging an estimated 150,000 voters from the early vote list with a new voter suppression law.
To stop voter suppression measures like these from taking effect in Arizona and in states across the country, it’s urgent that the U.S. Senate passes the For the People Act immediately.
This landmark package of voting rights reform and anti-corruption legislation would combat these dangerous purges by ensuring that all eligible voters, including Arizonans, are sent an application for a mail-in ballot prior to Election Day, regardless of whether they’re on an early vote list.
The For the People Act would also address the dangerous impact of the audit and voter suppression efforts by restoring faith in our democracy.
Not only have state-level provisions like the ones we’re seeing in Arizona eroded trust in our electoral system, but they also undermine our nation’s value of one person, one vote.
A healthy democracy is good for business
This freedom is not just important for individual voters: it’s fundamentally important to the business community, especially small businesses. A strong, healthy democracy that includes everyone’s perspective – and the growth and stability that it brings – is good for business.
That’s why business leaders nationwide have begun to oppose attempts across the country to restrict the right to vote. One of the strongest and most direct responses has come from Arizona.
In response to “dark money” driven special interests, such as Heritage Action, to restrict Arizonans’ access to the ballot box, the Greater Phoenix Leadership rose in opposition.
In a statement, the business coalition pushed back against proposals to limit the early voting period, purge inactive voters from the Permanent Early Voting List and allow the state Legislature to overturn the will of voters in presidential elections as barriers to voting that the coalition opposes.
It was signed by 40 business leaders, including Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill, the leadership of major health care companies and other prominent Arizona businesses.
We just want a level playing field
The For the People Act would protect our freedom to vote equally and put a stop to nearly all of the 361 voter suppression bills introduced this year in 47 states and supported by dark money groups. It would affirm and ensure people – not just the powerful – are the foundation of our democracy.
The bill would also reduce the influence of dark money in politics, crack down on political corruption and ensure accurate and fair elections.
These measures will benefit everyone, and that’s why the For the People Act is supported by an overwhelming majority – 83% of Americans, including nearly three-fourths of Republicans.
Like families across Arizona, small businesses here want a level playing field. Three of us – Cindy Dach, Gayle Shanks and Bob Sommer – are the co-owners of a small business, and know all too well the challenges that Arizona businesses face.
We want a system where voters’ voice is not drowned out by wealthy and powerful interests with big money, undue influence and outsized access.
This is how we break government gridlock
Pharma, for example, has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on campaign contributions and lobbying, and 10 of the biggest pharma companies were rewarded with $76 billion in tax cuts in the 2017 tax bill.
But drug prices didn’t go down in Arizona or anywhere else. In fact, they skyrocketed. Between 2012 and 2017, the average annual cost of prescription drug treatment in Arizona increased 57.8%, while the annual income for Arizonans increased only 12%.
Most recently, after an initial bipartisan effort to pass COVID-19 relief early, American families and small businesses had to wait more than nine months for Congress to pass additional assistance. The delay was largely caused by politicians holding out for corporate special interests’ demands for carve outs giving them special legal immunity.
By ending dark money, empowering small donors, cracking down on corruption in both parties and protecting everyone’s freedom to vote, the For the People Act would make our government more responsive to the public interest.
That’s how we break the Washington gridlock and make progress on important issues like health care and prescription drug costs and building an economy that works for everyone.
That is good for Arizona families and businesses alike.
Tiffany Muller is president of the 501(c)(4) nonprofit End Citizens United/Let America Vote Action Fund. Cindy Dach, a writer, artist and community advocate, is co-owner and CEO of Changing Hands Bookstore, Arizona’s oldest and largest independent bookstore. Reach them at [email protected] and [email protected]. The piece was also co-authored by Changing Hands co-owners Gayle Shanks and Bob Sommer.