The Green Party celebrates the FEC decision announced today, as the party grows and strong Green candidates challenge two-party dominance across the U.S.
THE GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release:
Thursday, November 8, 2001
Contacts:
Nancy Allen, Media Coordinator, 207-326-4576,
nallen@acadia.net
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624,
scottmclarty@yahoo.com
FEC application contacts:
Dean Myerson, Green Party Political Organizer,
cell phone 303-956-0827
David Cobb, Green Party General Counsel,
713-444-6592 or 713-880-3219
Carol Miller, Media Committee, 505-660-5988
Robbie Franklin, Green Party Treasurer,
713-699-5440
FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE GREEN
PARTY
The Green Party celebrates the FEC decision
announced today, as the party grows and strong
Green candidates challenge two-party dominance
across the U.S.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Federal Election
Commission (FEC) today issued a unanimous opinion
recognizing the Green Party of the United States
as the National Committee of the Green Party.
The decision, in response to a request to the FEC
from the Green Party in August, follows the Green
Party's ground-breaking 2000 campaigns, including
the national campaigns of Ralph Nader and Winona
LaDuke for President and Vice President.
"The decision of the FEC adds to the enormous
momentum the Green Party now enjoys," said Dean
Myerson, Green Party Political Coordinator. "We
are running more candidates, electing more
candidates, gaining more members and support."
During the party's annual meeting in Santa
Barbara, California last July, Green delegates
voted to establish a national party and to apply
to the FEC for national committee status.
Delegates also approved growth plans that include
opening an office in Washington, D.C. and hiring
a team of field organizers for the mid-term
election season.
"National Committee status is a tremendous
accomplishment for the young party, one that
acknowledges its place as the leading and fastest
growing political alternative in the United
States," added David Cobb, General Counsel for
the Green Party of the United States. "It will
help increase the numbers of voters who recognize
us as the party of change, a serious contender on
the political landscape."
National Committee status will permit the Green
Party to accept contributions up to ,000 per
year from individuals, but internal Green Party
rules cap such donations at ,000 per year.
The party and its candidates also refuse
contributions from corporations.
"The Green Party is the only political party to
oppose the big money that is corrupting politics
in America," said Steve Schmidt, chair of the
party's Platform Committee. "We're the only
party that chooses to regulate itself more
strictly than the federal government."
The Green Party has called for a measured and
just response to the September 11 attacks,
demanding that the U.S. avoid further civilian
deaths and continue to protect civil liberties
and our constitutional rights of dissent, free
assembly, privacy, due process, and mobility.
The Republican and Democratic Parties continue to
retreat from supporting such protections.
"The attacks were a crime against humanity, and
Greens call for the culprits to be brought to
justice in an appropriate international court of
law," said Annie Goeke, a Pennsylvania Green and
chair of the International Committee of the Green
Party of the United States. "The current war
mentality threatens to undermine our rights and
cause needless deaths, abroad and possibly even
here in the U.S. It will prove ineffective in
stopping terrorism."
The Green Party of the United States is the
national political organization of the Greens, in
which 33 states are represented, with other
states' memberships pending. It organized the
Green National Convention in Denver in June,
2000, at which Ralph Nader was nominated to run
for President, and is recognized among Green
Parties around the world.
Media inquiries about national policies and
activities of the Green Party should be directed
to the Green Party of the United States, through
its media representatives as listed in the
heading above. To contact state Green Parties,
visit the Green Party of the United States web
site
the state parties and their contacts and web
sites.
MORE INFORMATION
The Green Party of the United States
http://gpus.org
Federal Election Commission http://www.fec.gov
Green Party statement on the September 11 attacks
http://gpus.org/articles/9_11_01.html
END
Original: FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION RECOGNIZES THE GREEN PARTY