ATLANTA (January 21, 2015) | Sen. Nan Orrock (D — Atlanta) was joined by nearly two dozen groups on the fifth anniversary of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision to announce the introduction of resolutions in both the Georgia Senate and House of Representatives.
“When our Supreme Court undid decades of campaign finance law five years ago, the floodgates were opened for special interest groups to spend not only without limits in our elections, but often shrouded in secrecy,” Sen. Orrock said. “Research shows that $120 million was spent just in the last cycle from secret donors. Congress must place common-sense limits on campaign contributions.”
Senate Resolution 44, sponsored by Sen. Orrock, urges federal action now to address the inequity of influence and imbalance of power regarding federal election funding to maintain the integrity of democracy. The resolution was co-signed by Sen. Vincent Fort, Sen. Gloria Butler, Sen. Horacena Tate, Sen. Gail Davenport, Sen. Emmanual Jones, Sen. Ed Harbison, Sen. Donzella James, Sen. Harold Jones II, Sen. Lester Jackson and Sen. Elana Parent.
Rep. Karla Drenner (D – Avondale Estates) is sponsoring a similar resolution in the Georgia House of Representatives. “When Americans are asked if they believe big money influences the political process, the resounding response is yes,” Rep. Drenner said. “Restrictions should be placed on campaign spending in order to preserve our democracy.”
“Five years ago today, the Supreme Court went way off track and gave mega-donors and corporate interests free rein to drown out the voices of the majority,” said Michael Sikora of Georgia Public Interest Research Group. “But we’re here today because the decision also sparked a movement of Americans working to take back our democracy, city-by-city and state-by-state.”
“As voters we have a right to know who is funding political campaigns,” Kelly Persons of the League of Women Voters of Georgia. “And as citizens of this great nation we have the obligation to call on Congress and the Federal Election Commission to strictly enforce unlimited coordinated expenditures. The integrity of our democracy must be upheld and the corruption of undisclosed secret money in our political system must be stopped.”
Sen. Orrock and Rep. Drenner were joined in the call to action by Georgia Public Interest Research Group, Georgia Women’s Action for New Directions, The Coalition for the People’s Agenda, AFL-CIO, Georgia STAND-UP, EcoAction, Environment Georgia, Georgia Equality, Planned Parenthood, Partnership for Southern Equity, Women Engaged, League of Women Voters, Nuclear Watch South, American Friends Service Committee and Moral Monday Georgia.
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For Immediate Release:
January 21, 2015
For Information Contact:
Jennifer Yarber, Director
Brett Johnson, Broadcast Specialist
Brett.Johnson@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028