John,

We are continuing the fight to end big money in our elections and to protect our democracy.

In March 2010, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in SpeechNow.org v. FEC opened the door to super PACs by holding that the federal law limiting contributions to political committees to $5,000 per person each year could not be applied to a political committee that promised to make only “independent expenditures.”

At the same time, the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2010 ruling in Citizens United allowed foreign-influenced corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money to dominate our elections in their favor. These two assaults on our democracy prioritize the profits of corporations and wealthy interests over the needs of the American people.

Now, as multinational corporations like Uber and Lyft prepare to push a new ballot measure in Massachusetts that would define their drivers as independent contractors, Massachusetts legislators have a chance to pass laws to abolish super PACs and to prohibit spending by foreign-influenced corporations in state elections. The bills, based on the models Free Speech For People passed in Seattle and St. Petersburg, Florida, will help Bay Staters reclaim their democracy from multinational corporations and big-money interests.

Watch our video to learn more about the Massachusetts legislation and our ongoing efforts to end corporate spending in our elections.