Next campaign spending cycle begins, one-year since Citizens United
Stunning Statistics of the Week:
- $4 billion: Amount spent in 2010 elections, a record
One-year Citizens United anniversary to be marked by rallies, protests
Friday, Jan. 21, is the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, in which the justices gave corporations a green light to spend as much money as they want to influence elections. The anniversary will be marked with rallies and demonstrations throughout the country to show support for a constitutional amendment to overturn the decision. In Washington, D.C., people will gather at the Capitol, deliver about three-quarters of a million petition signatures to Congress calling for a constitutional amendment and participate in a two-day “For the People” summit.
DeLay wants to use Citizens United ruling to get out of jail
Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, sentenced this week to three years in prison for laundering corporate money and using it to help Republican candidates, is hoping that the Citizens United ruling will be his get-out-of-jail card. DeLay is arguing in his appeal that the Supreme Court would absolve him. Public Citizen, by the way, says that DeLay should spend more than just three years behind bars.
Attack ads already starting in North Dakota
The 2012 race has barely begun, but ads are already running in North Dakota for a U.S. Senate seat now held by Democrat Kent Conrad. A conservative outside group, American Future Fund, is spending money on an attack ad against him.
Appellate court hears challenge to Minnesota’s disclosure law
A challenge to Minnesota’s state disclosure laws came before the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals this week. The law says that corporations have to make public information about their spending on elections.
The Jack Abramoff scandal in a new medium
Who would have thought that a movie about disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff would result in a Golden Globe nomination? But it has. Actor Kevin Spacey has been nominated for best actor.
Visit www.DontGetRolled.org to learn more!
Get the Money & Democracy Update delivered to your inbox! Sign up here.