Schakowsky Statement on the 5th Anniversary of Supreme Court's Citizens United Decision

Statement

Rep. Jan Schakowsky released the following statement addressing the fifth anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. FEC:

"Five years ago, the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United set the stage for increased amounts of corporate and special interest money to be spent influencing our elections. Elections are now dominated by large donors and Super PACs, instead of American citizens. Bottom line, the highest court in the land decided that money is speech and corporations are people.

A half decade later, it is clear that the role of money in our elections is dangerous to our democracy. I am committed to working with Congressional Democrats, the President and others to reverse this trend and ensure that our democracy remains accountable to the American people.

I strongly support legislation to increase disclosure of money spent influencing elections (DISCLOSE Act), to reform the campaign finance system and amplify the role of small donors (Government By the People Act), and to overturn Citizens United once and for all by making it clear that corporations are not people (Democracy for All Amendment). In addition to combating the role of money in this process, I believe that we must also focus on ensuring that all Americans are able to exercise their fundamental right to vote, which is why I support initiatives to modernize our voter registration system (Voter Empowerment Act) and efforts to ensure that the Voting Rights Act remains a strong defense against those who may attempt to suppress Americans' votes.

Elections should be about the many, not the money. On the fifth anniversary of this misguided decision, we must continue the fight against the oversized and damaging role of money in politics."

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