John,
Our campaign finance system is broken, allowing dark money groups to spend unlimited sums of money to influence our elections without reporting the corporate or billionaire donors behind this political spending.
That means that even as our latest report, “The Billionaire Family Business”, shines a spotlight on how 50 billionaire families have already spent a whopping $600 million to influence the 2024 presidential election―they have almost certainly spent much more in their attempt to control our democracy and protect their vast fortunes.
That’s why, in addition to fighting for tax policies that constrain the wealth and power of America’s 806 billionaires such as Representatives Steve Cohen (D-TN) and Don Beyer’s (D-VA) Billionaire Minimum Income Tax and Senator Bernie Sanders’s For the 99.8% Act, we’re also demanding Congress pass critical campaign finance reform.
The DISCLOSE Act, introduced in both the House and Senate, would require all organizations―including dark money groups―to disclose donors who have given $10,000 or more during an election. This will ensure critical transparency in our democracy―allowing voters to know who is spending money to influence our elections as well as judicial nominees, including to the Supreme Court.
Take action today and send a message to your senators and representative urging them to pass the DISCLOSE Act to provide transparency on corporate and billionaire influence in our democracy.
As the lead sponsor in the U.S. Senate, Sheldon Whitehouse, said upon introduction of the bill:[1]
“A toxic flood of dark money has given billionaires and special interests a powerful way to rig the system secretly in their favor―dark money even enabled these same interests to capture our Supreme Court.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer added:
“One of the gravest dangers undermining our democracy is the power of dark money in our elections. The DISCLOSE Act would provide the transparency the American people want and need, pulling back the veil on billionaires and giant corporations trying to make sure government works for them.”
Ever since the Supreme Court opened the floodgates to Big Money’s influence in our elections in their disastrous 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court decision, billionaire and corporate influence in our democracy has skyrocketed. Just look at this chart reflecting billionaire contributions:
Demand transparency around billionaires spending in our elections! Take action today and tell Congress to pass the DISCLOSE Act.
Thank you for working to protect our democracy from billionaires and their unlimited resources.
David Kass
Executive Director
Americans for Tax Fairness Action Fund
[1] WHITEHOUSE, CICILLINE REINTRODUCE DISCLOSE ACT TO END CORRUPTING INFLUENCE OF DARK MONEY IN AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
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