by Freeda Cathcart
Over a dozen people quickly showed up for a vigil hastily planned for a protest to support the Confront Corruption Vigil to Protect Democracy. People expressed dismay about the lack of transparency in government starting with President Trump not fulfilling his promise to release his taxes when he was elected to office. They inflated a 20 ft. tall Tax March Chicken because President Trump is too chicken to release his taxes.
It’s unacceptable that Rep. Goodlatte is not fulfilling his responsibility on the Judicial committee to have hearings to demand President Trump to release his taxes. People remember when the GOP passed the new tax law which gave $1.5 trillion tax cut to the very rich. One congressman Vern Buchanan, a Republican from Florida, bought a yacht worth up to $5 million on the same day he voted to cut his own taxes by $2.1 million.
Freeda Cathcart with Indivisible Virginia.
“It’s unfair that Congressman Goodlatte’s vote for the new tax law resulted in hard working American families paying $263 more in taxes and 764,460 Virginians will see no tax cut next year,” states Cathcart
Represent.us is a co-sponsor of the Confront Corruption Vigil to Protect Democracy. Hundreds of vigils are taking place across our country with at least five of them in Virginia.
“The problem is that corruption is legal, adds David Denham, chapter leader of Roanoke Valley Represent.Us. “Our Congressional District 6 Representative Bob Goodlatte, as chair of the House Judiciary Committee, has blocked potential legislation to make corruption illegal in our democracy.”
The President, his associates and many in his party have reached a new low in keeping corruption legal. Our democracy must be honest, foster citizen participation, be transparent, be responsive, assure that every citizen can vote and most of all, not be controlled by big money corporate interests!
On November 8 voters will have the opportunity to vote for candidates who have pledged to support the Anti-Corruption Act up and down the ballot like Jennifer Lewis, District 6 Congressional Candidate, running for Goodlatte’s open seat. Delegate Sam Rasoul was the first political leader in Virginia to make a public anti-corruption commitment in 2014. In Virginia, 38 political leaders have made public anticorruption commitments. Corruption will become illegal when we elect honest leaders, who truly represent us.
