House and Senate Leadership are attempting to undermine Campaign Finance Laws by allowing 501(c)(3) Nonprofits, like Churches, Charities, and Foundations, to get involved in Political Campaigns, and by allowing Political Parties to Funnel Unlimited amounts of Money from Wealthy Individuals and PACs directly to Candidates. These Proposed Bills would undermine Campaign Finance Limits, taking Power away from the American People and handing over even more Power to a Small number of Wealthy Individuals and Powerful Special Interests.
Ever since the disastrous Citizens United Supreme Court decision, our Political Campaigns have been flooded with this Dark Money, hidden from the Public Eye. This has allowed For-Profit and Non-Profit Corporations and Wealthy Individuals to spend Hundreds of Millions of Dollars in Support of or in Opposition to Candidates.
Corporations have been able to do this without Reporting Donors, often without Reporting Spending, and recently without the need to even Report Political Expenditures to its Own Shareholders.
Now, House and Senate Leadership are attempting to further Weaken Campaign Finance Laws by allowing Non-Profits to get directly involved in Political Campaigns, and by allowing Political Parties to Launder Unlimited Amounts of Money from Wealthy Interests to Benefit the Candidates these Powerful Interests support.
According to Official Estimates, these proposed Bills would Increase Dark Money spending by up to $2 Billion and would allow Big Donors to get around Candidate Contribution Limits by letting Candidates and Parties Coordinate how to Spend Donations as Large as Half-a-Million Dollars.
We cannot Stand By while Congress undermines our Democracy and allows Dark Money to Flood our Political System.
Because they know the American People oppose these Provisions, House and Senate Leadership are attempting to Attach these Campaign Finance Ideas as “Riders” to the Must-Pass Omnibus Spending Bill, meaning the Proposals won’t even receive their own Up or Down Vote.
Traditionally, 501(c)(3) Non-Profits, including Churches, Charities, and Foundations, received Tax-Exempt Status in Exchange for agreeing NOT to Engage in any Political Activity. Under the Proposed Rider, they would be allowed to conduct Political Activity like Endorsing a Candidate or Attacking a Political Opponent.
Recent Letters Signed by 5,500 Charitable Non-Profits and 4,300 Faith Leaders Oppose Removing or Weakening this important Part of the Law, which Prevents the Politicization of Charitable Non-Profits, Religious Congregations, and the Philanthropic Community.
CLICK HERE to Sign the Petition to Congress demanding that House and Senate Leadership Abandon its attempts to Hand even more Political Power over to the Wealthy Individuals and Special Interests, further Undermining the American People’s own Influence in our Democratic Process. Let’s work Together to Fix Washington, Restore our Democracy, and Return it to the People!
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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