Money OUT, Voters IN Wisconsin stands with legislative leaders against Citizens United

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Resolution introduced today would place referendum on November, 2014, statewide ballot, providing voters a voice on Citizens United

WISPIRG

MADISON – The Money OUT, Voters IN Wisconsin coalition, comprised of 32 organizations committed to combating the influence of big special interest money in elections, joined State Representative Chris Taylor (D-Madison) today in Madison to announce the introduction of a resolution (LRB 1457/5) to place a referendum on the November, 2014, statewide ballot allowing the voters of Wisconsin to be heard on the issue of Citizens United. State Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) will introduce the resolution in the State Senate.

The referendum question would allow Wisconsinites to voice their support for a Constitutional amendment overturning the 2010 Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. FEC. The ruling, based on the premises that corporations have the same Constitutional rights as people and that money is equivalent to speech, opened the floodgates to the corrupting influence of big money in our democracy by granting corporations the power to spend unlimited amounts of money to influence our elections.

“We thank Sen. Hansen and Rep. Taylor for standing with us and standing up against the corrupting influence corporate spending and special interest money plays in our democracy,” said Money Out, Voters In Wisconsin representative and  United Wisconsin Executive Director Lisa Subeck. “Today we are calling upon our state legislators to pass this resolution and allow the people of Wisconsin to be heard on the issue of Citizens United.”

Since the 2010 Supreme Court ruling, special interest spending on elections has skyrocketed. According to a report released by the WISPIRG Foundation and Demos entitled “Billion Dollar Democracy,” total spending on the 2012 election cycle topped $5.2 billion, with over $1 billion coming from outside groups like SuperPACs. Nearly 60% of the total SuperPAC funding came from just 159 individuals making contributions of at least $1 million.

Wisconsin has seen a similar trend in our own elections. Spending by candidates and interest groups in elections for state and federal offices totaled $391.9 million in the 2010 and 2012 election cycles – more than triple the $123.7 million spent in the 2006 and 2008 election cycles, according the a review conducted by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.

“The first post-Citizens United major election in November 2012 confirmed our fears that the new campaign finance system allows well-heeled special interests and secret spenders to drown out the voices of ordinary citizens,” said Bruce Speight, WISPIRG Director.  “Republicans, Democrats, and Independents in 16 states have come together through legislative resolutions and advisory referendums to say ‘this is not the democracy they want.’  Likewise, the people of Wisconsin deserve to have our say as to whether this is the democracy we want.”

16 states and more than 500 municipalities have passed resolutions opposing Citizens United since 2010, including 14 counties and municipalities in Wisconsin. Jefferson County and the towns of Koshkonong, Oakland, and Exeter have recently joined Dane, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire and Chippewa counties along with the cities of Madison West Allis, Fort Atkinson, Whitewater, Westport and Monona in passing resolutions calling for the reversal of Citizens United.

“With the introduction of this resolution, today is an important step in the march to victory for those who wish to take back our government from special interest groups,” said James Hartwick of Move To Amend – Rock River. “Citizens United opened the floodgates to unlimited election spending by corporations and unions, and has given special interests a megaphone that is drowning out the voice of the people. 16 states have already signaled their support for a Constitutional Amendment, and it is time for Wisconsin to join the growing national movement to restore our democracy and reverse this ruling.”

Money OUT, Voters IN Wisconsin is a coalition of 33 Wisconsin groups who are working on THE core problem of money in politics. Over 20,000 Wisconsin citizens have already added their names to a petition demanding that the Wisconsin Legislature place an Advisory Referendum on the ballot in Wisconsin directing the Congress to amend the U.S. Constitution to end the notions that money is speech and corporations have the same rights as human beings. For more information, visit http://moneyoutvotersinwi.wordpress.com/.