Press Releases

End Citizens United Endorses Represent South Dakota Ballot Initiative to Strengthen Ethics & Campaign Finance Rules in Pierre

Jan 03, 2018

Pierre, SD — Today, End Citizens United (ECU) endorsed the South Dakota Voter Protection and Anti-Corruption Amendment. The campaign to pass the amendment is led by Represent South Dakota, a grassroots, bipartisan group. The amendment was certified by Secretary of State Shantel Krebs last week to appear on the November 2018 ballot as Constitutional Amendment W.

The amendment’s many reforms include protection of voter-approved laws from legislative interference; a ban on foreign money in South Dakota politics; a ban on campaign money from union and corporations to candidates and political parties; a ban on politicians from using state resources for personal gain; and strengthened ethics law enforcement.

In 2016, ECU endorsed “Initiated Measure 22,” a comprehensive ethics reform package that South Dakotans passed with 52% of the vote. The South Dakota Legislature promptly overturned the initiative to preserve their privileges and perks. Among its other provisions, the 2018 ballot initiative Constitutional Amendment W will prevent the Legislature from similarly breaching the will of the people ever again.

“Our grassroots members in South Dakota are ready to help take on this fight,” said Tiffany Muller, president and executive director of End Citizens United. “We cannot allow entrenched power-hungry politicians to continue to rig the system against the people.”

ECU was established in March 2015 to counter the harmful effects of Citizens United and reform our campaign finance system. With over three million members, including 5,000 in South Dakota, ECU is the largest campaign finance reform PAC in the country. Its affiliated state-level project, Fight for Reform, focuses on bringing transparency and accountability to local elections around the country. Fight For Reform will connect grassroots activists and donors with the South Dakota Anti-Corruption Amendment.

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