For immediate release: January 20, 2012
Contact: Chloe Tribich, Communications Director, Center for Working Families
Desk: (212) 206-9168 x14 / Cell: (347) 573-077 Email: chloe@cwfny.org
Statement from Dave Palmer, Executive Director of the Center for Working Families, on the Second Anniversary of Citizens United
“The impact of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision—issued on January 21, 2010—is now crystal clear: A political system that caters even more slavishly to big corporations while silencing the voices of regular voters.
The 2012 election is expected to be the most expensive on record. Top donors include billionaires like New Yorker John Paulson, who has already funneled over $1 million into the election, much of it to the pro-Romney super PAC, Restore Our Future.
Meanwhile, voters are growing more fed up. One recent poll shows that two in three small business owners feel that Citizens United was bad for them. Another suggests that three in four New Yorkers—including 70 percent of Republicans—support reforms that would rein in corporate influence over politics.
Those who care about democracy are responding on two fronts:
At the national level, activists are working to pass a constitutional amendment reversing Citizens United.
In New York, Gov. Cuomo reiterated his strong commitment to public financing of elections, lower contribution limits and stricter enforcement in this year’s State of the State address—policies that are proven to limit corporate influence and engage regular voters. Gov. Cuomo is the first state governor to meaningfully respond to Citizens United.
The Center for Working Families is committed to working with the governor and the legislature to win passage of strong public financing legislation in 2012.”
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