Press Releases

End Citizens United Launches Thank You Campaign for Democrats Who Stood Against Dark Money

Jul 11, 2016

For Immediate Release
Monday, July 11, 2016
Contact: [email protected]

End Citizens United (ECU) has launched a thank you campaign targeting Democrats who stood up for the American people on the floor of the House of Representatives last week. Democrats voted for amendments that would have blocked restrictions designed to prevent the IRS and the SEC from uncovering undisclosed, secret money trying to buy our elections.

During the campaign, ECU members around the country will call their Representatives to thank them for supporting reform. The Representatives include Tammy Duckworth (IL-08), Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-01), Scott Peters (CA-52), Pete Aguilar (CA-31), Raul Ruiz (CA-36), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-09), Cheri Bustos (IL-17), Rick Nolan (MN-08), Brad Ashford (NE-02), and Ann Kuster (NH-02).

“End Citizens United’s grassroots members are dedicated to overturning the disastrous effects of Citizens United and reforming our broken campaign finance system, and more than a million and a half of us have already taken action,” said Tiffany Muller, ECU Executive Director. “This week, we’re thanking the Democrats who stood up against the Koch brothers and corporate special interests by voting to curtail anonymous political spending.”

During the House’s consideration of H.R. 5485, the financial services appropriations bill, House Republicans defeated an amendment introduced by Representatives Xavier Becerra, Ted Deutch, and Adam Schiff that would have allowed the IRS to more clearly define the nature and permissible scope of political activity for 501(c)(4) “social welfare” nonprofits, which billionaires and special interests often use to hide their political spending.

House Republicans also defeated Representative Dan Kildee’s amendment, which would have allowed the SEC to require the corporate disclosure of political contributions to tax exempt organizations. Instead, House Republicans passed H.R. 5485 with unreasonable prohibitions on the IRS and the SEC that prevent them from helping Americans understand who is trying to influence our elections.

End Citizens United PAC was established in March 2015 to counter the disastrous effects of Citizens United and reform our campaign finance system. To date, more than 1.5 million grassroots members from every state and territory have taken action to support End Citizens United.