Tired of Political Lip Service? New Campaign Urges Americans to Help End Political Gridlock in Washington

Innovative Video Series "Lip Service" Illustrates Partisan Rhetoric on Deficits, Immigration, Energy, Entitlements, Economy Inequality

News provided by

Bipartisan Policy Center

May 15, 2014, 08:35 ET

WASHINGTON, May 15, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "Lip Service" is a new viral video campaign being released today by the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) as part of its Citizens for Political Reform (Citizens) initiative. Citizens is a national movement of informed, opinionated Americans who demand change in Washington. The series of innovative videos urge Americans who are frustrated by partisan bickering and political dysfunction to join Citizens and help end political gridlock in Congress.

Join Citizens for Political Reform by signing up here: www.bipartisanpolicy.org/citizens.

A recent BPC/USA Today survey showed that 77 percent of voters disapprove of the way Congress is doing its job. The survey was developed as part of BPC's Commission on Political Reform. It's the fourth joint poll of Americans' attitudes toward aspects of our political system. (PRNewsFoto/Bipartisan Policy Center)

Join the Movement! Become a Citizen for Political Reform today at www.bipartisanpolicy.org (PRNewsFoto/Bipartisan Policy Center)

Bipartisan Policy Center Logo (PRNewsFoto/Bipartisan Policy Center) (PRNewsFoto/Bipartisan Policy Center)

With animated mouths that snipe, rant and talk past each other, the "Lip Service" videos illustrate the typical partisan talking points from Democrats and Republicans on issues such as deficits, immigration, energy, entitlements, and economic inequality. The goal of the campaign is to encourage Americans to move past politicians' "lip service" and demand bipartisan action on the most important issues facing the nation.

"Thousands of Americans are signing up to be part of our Citizens movement. We need thousands more to help us send a strong message that it's time to end the hyper-partisanship that's preventing solutions to our nation's greatest challenges," said BPC Senior Fellow and former Senator Olympia Snowe, who spearheads BPC's Citizens campaign.

"A recent BPC/USA Today national survey showed that 77 percent of voters disapprove of the way Congress is doing its job," said BPC Senior Fellow and former Congressman Dan Glickman. "It's time for people across America to make their voices heard. By joining our campaign, they reject hyper-partisanship in Congress and support leaders who show the courage to solve real problems."

The six videos will be released over the next six weeks as part of a 100-day social media campaign and educational effort leading up to the release of BPC's Commission on Political Reform's recommendations on June 24 in Washington. Over the past year, the commission has been analyzing the causes and consequences of America's partisan political divide and will advocate for electoral and congressional reform. Citizens is the public grassroots initiative working with the commission to provide voters with the tools and information to become politically engaged and to actively spread the word about BPC's upcoming recommendations in their communities.

In addition to the "Lip Service" videos, BPC is educating Citizens about the commission, sharing eye-opening political statistics and polls, and highlighting important state-by-state information on key issue areas relevant to the CPR recommendations such as redistricting, congressional primaries and voter registration.

"Our goal is to create an engaged debate about practical reforms," said BPC President Jason Grumet. "Together we can revive constructive partisanship in Washington."

Join the movement: Share the "Lip Service" videos with family and friends through social media and email. You can also follow BPC on Facebook and Twitter and tweet using the hashtag #EngageUSA.

About the Bipartisan Policy Center
Founded in 2007 by former U.S. Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole and George Mitchell, Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) is a non-profit organization that drives principled solutions through rigorous analysis, reasoned negotiation and respectful dialogue. With projects in multiple issue areas, BPC combines politically balanced policymaking with strong, proactive advocacy and outreach. For more information, please visit www.bipartisanpolicy.org.

Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SrsgAGwrao
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140514/87823
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140514/87842
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140514/87824

SOURCE Bipartisan Policy Center