Green Party candidate qualifies for matching funds

From the  Green Party of Michigan. 

For more information, contact:

John A. La Pietra, Elections Coordinator for the Green Party of Michigan (269)781-9478 or by email

jalp@triton.net

For immediate release:

Green Party Presumptive Presidential Candidate Qualifies for Matching Funds

In a statement released this weekend, the committee to elect Dr. Jill Stein announced the campaign's

achievement. This marks the first time a Green Party Presidential candidate has met this standard.

In order to qualify to receive federal matching funds, a candidate must earn donations of at least $5,000

from at least 20 states with each donation limited to $250 from each donor. Because Green Party candidates

refuse corporate donations, this funding will prove crucial to the campaign.

Now that the funding has been secured, all donations to the Jill Stein campaign will be matched dollar

for dollar up to the $250 individual donor limit. A rigorous push from Michigan Green Party members resulted in

the state’s inclusion as one of the 20 which helped Dr. Stein reach her goal.

Michigan Green Party Co-Chair Fred Vitale emphasizes the deeper meaning of obtaining matching

funds: “Reaching this landmark underlines that the political conversation in this country, and in Michigan, is

opening up to include Green solutions to the economic and environmental crisis”.

The achievement of this benchmark can be attributed to several factors, not the least of which is Dr.

Stein’s own enthusiasm and common sense strategies for overhauling our broken political system. In her Green

New Deal, Dr. Stein outlines a revolutionary approach to the office of President of the United States. This

summary of the Green New Deal comes directly from her website:

The Green New Deal is an emergency four part program of specific solutions for moving America quickly

out of crisis into the secure green future.

We call these solutions a Green “New Deal” because they are inspired by the New Deal programs that

helped us out of the Great Depression of the 1930s. And these solutions are “Green” because they

create an economy that makes our communities sustainable and healthy.

First, we will guarantee the economic rights of all Americans, beginning with the right to a job at a living

wage for every American willing and able to work.

Second, we will transition to a sustainable, green economy for the 21st century, by adopting green

technologies and sustainable production.

Third, we will reboot and reprogram the financial sector so that it serves everyday people and our

communities, and not the other way around.

Fourth, we will protect these gains by expanding and strengthening our democracy so that our

government and our economy finally serve We the People.

Take courage. Because of the urgency of these times, I am asking you personally to take courage and

to be willing to believe that these major changes to our economy and politics are within our reach.

It was with this strategy in hand that Dr. Stein travelled throughout the country giving interviews, meeting

Green Party members, sitting in solidarity with the Occupy movement and reinforcing her commitment to underserved,

underrepresented groups such as minorities and the poor. She has made several appearances in

Michigan over the past few months, in person and recently on Skype to the Green Party nominating convention

last month. Wherever she has met with Green Party members as well as the general public, Dr. Stein has

proven a dynamic, intelligent and inspiring voice.

 The political climate of the United States, as well as that in countries throughout the world, cannot be

ignored. The voices of the previously voiceless 99% of the population has proven that only government truly of,

by and for the people can survive and prosper. It is the hunger of the people for this change and the

dissatisfaction with the two twin major parties which has also propelled Dr. Stein’s campaign.

As November draws closer, excitement continues to build for this, the election year in which the majority

of Americans have the greatest chance to make the most dynamic change.

“The Green Party is no longer the alternative,” one Stein advertisement explains, “it is the imperative.”

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The Jill Stein website: www.jillstein.org