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Secret Money Poison Pills Removed from Senate Appropriations Bills

WASHINGTON. D.C. – U.S. Senate Democrats today released nine of the annual appropriations bills for FY 2022, which removed several longstanding poison pill policy riders contained therein. Lisa Gilbert, executive vice president of Public Citizen and co-chair of the Clean Budget Coalition, released the following statement:

“In the midst of intense negotiation for the Build Back Better plan, Democrats have not forgotten the other looming budget need: funding our government. In great news, Senate Democrats have just released a set of funding bills that show real commitment to spending our resources on the pressing needs of the nation.

“One clear sign of this goal is the removal of a set of longstanding, poison pill policy riders that were added over the years at the behest of conservatives. These unrelated measures should never have been part of the annual funding packages, and it is long past time for them to be removed.

“Public Citizen applauds this action – especially the removal of a trio of poison pill riders that fueled secret money corruption. Two of the removed riders interfered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and executive branch procurement, blocking requirements that companies disclose their political spending. And a third stopped the IRS from better defining political spending for nonprofits. Lawmakers should ensure that the final budget stays clean, keeping out these dark money riders as well as the other embedded legacy poison pills that harm consumers, women’s health, and our environment.”