Press Releases

ECU: Tester Sides with Montana Families in Opposition to Gorsuch

Apr 03, 2017

Cites Gorsuch’s extreme position on money in politics; ruling that corporations are people
Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court has a record of putting corporations’ interests ahead of people

 
End Citizens United Executive Director Tiffany Muller released the following statement on Senator Jon Tester’s announcement that he will oppose Neil Gorsuch, Donald Trump’s nominee to the United States Supreme Court.

“Montanans have a long history of fighting for reforms that give everyday people a voice in democracy.  Jon Tester has upheld that tradition.  He’s introduced bills to shine light on the secret money funding our elections and has put forth a constitutional amendment that strikes at the heart of Citizens United by declaring that corporations are not people.  Neil Gorsuch would undermine those efforts.

“Judge Gorsuch has ruled that corporations are people. If confirmed, he would put the rights of corporations ahead of everyday Americans.  He’d allow more money and less transparency in our elections, and he’d give big campaign donors more influence in our government — the exact opposite of what Montanans want.

“Jon Tester cited Judge Gorsuch’s record on money in politics as a reason he should not be confirmed, because Montanans have already seen the damage caused by disastrous Supreme Court decisions, such as Citizens United.  The ruling led to a flood of unlimited and undisclosed money into our elections that’s polluting our politics, creating dysfunction in Washington, undermining our democracy, and eroding faith in government.  In Montana, Super PAC and anonymous spending shot up by $14 million after Citizens United, and Montana’s strong anti-corruption law was struck down by the extreme wing of the Court.

“Corporate and special interests have already begun attacking Jon Tester through a web of shady and secret money organizations – because he’s standing up for the Montana value of open, honest government.  End Citizens United is proud to stand alongside him as he leads the fight on behalf of hard-working Montanans and Americans who are being shut out of our democracy.”

 ###