WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the Sierra Club sent a letter to the U.S. Senate urging the passage of the Democracy for All Amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s disastrous Citizens United decision and help get money out of politics.
“The fundamentally-flawed Citizens United decision opened up the floodgates for a tidal wave of toxic polluter money into our government, drowning out the voices of those who are fighting for the health of our communities,” said Michael Brune, the Sierra Club’s Executive Director. “Enough is enough. With the vote on this amendment, each Senator goes on the record as to whether they want a government for the polluters or for the people.”
A report released by the Sierra Club and Oil Change International earlier this year found that independent political expenditures by oil and gas interests increased by more than 11,000 percent since the Citizens United decision. The priorities of government changed right along with that influx of money, as the two Congresses that succeeded that decision voted for a pro-polluter agenda more than 500 times.
The Democracy for All Amendment -- introduced by Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) -- is a constitutional amendment designed to turn back the tide and return government to the American people with a clear, permanent solution. Voters across party lines support the legislation which will face its first test on the Senate floor this week.
“Working alongside reform minded members of the Senate, a diverse and broad coalition of
environmental groups, good government groups, and unions are standing up to champion reform and advance bipartisan legislative solutions to make Congress more responsive to the interests of average Americans – not just the super wealthy and corporate interests. The Udall-Bennet amendment is one of the critical steps to repairing our democracy,” reads the Sierra Club’s letter.
Since the Amendment’s introduction, the Sierra Club has mobilized many of its 2.4 million members and supporters to support the legislation by contacting Senators and holding public rallies. The organization has also fought back at mis-informed attacks on the legislation from Senator Ted Cruz.
A cloture vote to proceed to debate on the bill is expected this evening in the Senate. If passed, the Democracy for All Amendment could reach the Senate floor by the end of the week.
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About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 2.4 million members and supporters nationwide. In addition to creating opportunities for people of all ages, levels and locations to have meaningful outdoor experiences, the Sierra Club works to safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and litigation. For more information, visit http://www.sierraclub.org.