End Citizens United president Tiffany Muller released the following statement in response to House Democrats’ Friday press conference pledging to make a comprehensive set of reforms to crack down on corruption, strengthen our democracy, and reduce the power of big money the first bill they introduce next year.
“Democrats won their majority by pledging to fight the power of special interests in Washington and H.R. 1 delivers on that promise,” said Tiffany Muller, president of End Citizens United. “This bold, comprehensive set of reforms will make it easier to vote, end the dominance of big money in our politics, and ensure elected officials are working in the public interest. We applaud Leader Pelosi, Congressman Sarbanes, and the rest of the caucus for standing up and fighting to create a democracy that works for all Americans.”
Friday’s pledge follows an election cycle in which reform was front and center. Candidates across the country campaigned on fighting corruption in Washington and supporting bold policies to reduce the power of big money in politics. Forty-seven members of the incoming class, or 75% of new Democratic lawmakers, signed a letter in October demanding reform be the first item on the agenda in the new Congress. Forty-nine members of the next session of Congress are refusing to take corporate PAC money in their campaigns, including 36 new members.
End Citizens United Action Fund, an arm of the campaign finance reform group, has played a pivotal role in harnessing the power of its four million members to pressure Congress to pass campaign finance reform legislation. As part of its work, ECU Action Fund encourages ECU members to call their member of Congress, host petition drives, letter to the editor campaigns, as well as join coalitions of other grassroots advocacy groups to pass legislation to help get big money out of politics.
# # #