Dear Friend,

Donald Trump crony Igor Fruman was just sentenced to a year in prison for
helping to funnel more than $1 million from powerful businessmen from
Ukraine and Russia into the campaigns of Republican candidates, including
Trump and Florida governor Ron DeSantis.(1)

But if Fruman had just approached foreign corporations with American
offices, it would have been perfectly legal, thanks to Citizens United.(2)

The Citizens United loophole has helped foreign lobbyists buy millions of
dollars of direct access to American politicians, and it’s past time for
that loophole to be closed. The House has just introduced the Get Foreign
Money Out of U.S. Elections Act, which would stop foreign-influenced
corporations from contributing to U.S. election campaigns.

Courage California has joined with other groups including Daily Kos,
Common Cause, and the Juggernaut Project to help rally grassroots energy
to pass the bill and stop foreign influence on our politicians.

[ [link removed] ]Click here to tell Congress: Pass the Get Foreign Money out of U.S.
Elections Act!

Since Citizens United v. FEC allowed corporations to pour unlimited money
into politics, foreign-based companies have used their U.S. subsidiaries
to gain access to politicians not seen before.

British American Tobacco has given more than $1 million per cycle since
2017, including donations to the Congressional Leadership Fund. EnCana Oil
& Gas, based in Canada, gave $300,000 in 2018. Swedish-owned AstraZeneca
Pharmaceuticals gave $450,000. Toyota gave nearly $1 million.(3)

Once Citizens United was decided, President Obama warned that the Supreme
Court had opened the floodgates for foreign interests to buy our elections
through corporations.(4) That’s exactly what’s happened.

We must stop foreign influence on our elections, and the Get Foreign Money
Out of U.S. Elections Act is a step in the right direction. Will you join
our call?

[ [link removed] ]Yes, I’ll sign on now.

Yours in the fight against unfair influence,

Irene, along with Amber, Angela, Annie, Caitlin, Isidra, Jay, Lindsay,
LisaMarie, Raquel, and Scottie (the Courage team) 

Footnotes:
1.
[link removed]
2.
[link removed]
3.
[link removed]
4.
[link removed]



*****************************************************************


Courage California (formerly Courage Campaign) makes sure our democracy works for ALL of us by fighting corruption in California politics. We believe the solution lies in exposing and solving systemic problems through strategic organizing, enhancing coordination between progressive organizations, and mobilizing civic engagement from our communities, particularly voters of color, young voters, and self-identified progressives.

[link removed]


Like what we do? Chip in to help fund the fight for a more progressive nation.
[link removed]


You can unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time:
[link removed]