As a country, we have real challenges: we need to fix our economy; we need to end the war in Afghanistan and bring our troops and the $100 billion per year we are spending home; we need to make sure every child gets an education that allows them to fully realize their potential.
To make those things happen, though, we need to fix the campaign finance system that allows large corporations and the very wealthy to buy their will in Congress through unlimited, anonymous spending. As early as today, the Senate could be voting on a crucial bill that will go a long way towards making our democracy work better, and we need your help to get it passed.
The DISCLOSE Act is a first step towards bigger reforms of our system. Current law allows corporations and multimillionaires spend unlimited amounts through front groups on campaign advertising. Using this loophole, they can spend millions of dollars in misleading, brutal attack ads--without ever having to reveal their donors or take responsibility. Here’s what Sen. Russ Feingold at Progressives United says about the bill:
The giant knowledge gap separating those bankrolling democracy-damaging ads and average citizens leaves most of us in the dark -- and at the mercy of manipulative corporate interests.
The DISCLOSE Act would expose the corporate special interests trying to buy our elections by requiring these shadowy groups to actually reveal their donors and take accountability for the ads they run.
The American people deserve to know who is funding our campaigns. When multimillionaires and corporations are able to buy elections in secret -- with no accountability -- our democracy suffers. We need to pass this bill –
Call your Senator right now and tell them to support this crucial bill: dial 202-224-3121.
In our history, few court rulings have dealt such a negative impact on our democracy as has Citizens United. It crosses out the promise of “We the People” and sells our Congress to the highest bidder. It is time for us to demand that our democracy is not for sale. The promise of America belongs to all of us, and we must reclaim it from the few.
All across this nation, we have an opportunity to elect champions – yes, Representatives – who will work for the many, and not just the few. We need to make sure the People’s House belongs to the people again.