Subject: [big campaign] Sierra Club Release: High Court Unleashes Tsunami of Corporate Cash w/ Citizens United Ruling
From: David Willett <[email-masked]>
To: [email-masked]
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:15:29 -0500
List-Id: <bigcampaign.googlegroups.com>

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 21, 2010
CONTACT: Josh Dorner, 202.675.2384
High Court Unleashes Tsunami of 
Corporate Cash with Citizens United Ruling
Washington, D.C.--The U.S. Supreme Court today, in its ruling in the case 
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, struck down significant 
portions of campaign finance laws.  In particular, the case removed 
restrictions in place for decades that have limited campaign spending from 
corporations.  The Sierra Club offered the following comments in response.
The High Court's ruling can be viewed here:
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/09pdf/08-205.pdf
Statement of Cathy Duvall, Political Director of Sierra Club
"We are extremely troubled and dismayed by today's decision.  It appears 
that the High Court confirmed our worst fears with its sweeping ruling 
that cast aside the laws that protected us from unlimited corporate 
campaign spending. 
"Congress is already awash in a sea of special interest money; this 
decision will launch a tsunami of corporate cash whose purpose is to 
overrun the public's interests.  Big Oil, Dirty Coal, and other special 
interests have a stranglehold on the Congress and today's ruling will 
further endanger the ability of citizens to influence the political 
process.  This ruling could put today's "pay-to-play" political culture on 
steroids. 
"We already have very clear indications of the dangers that lie ahead. The 
U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has been involved in today's case, 
reported just yesterday that it spent a record-breaking $71 million on 
lobbying last quarter.  Even before today's decision, it has already been 
laundering hundreds of millions of dollars in corporate cash, most notably 
for the health insurance industry and polluters, and has pledged to spend 
tens of millions of dollars in this year's elections.  Now it and the 
special interests that fund it will be allowed to spend limitless amounts 
not only in the legislative process, but to support or oppose individual 
candidates. 
"Now only Congress can stem the tidal wave of special interest cash and 
influence peddling that is about to overwhelm the electoral process.  The 
Sierra Club has long supported campaign finance reform and we now urge 
Congress to find a solution to help candidates combat the expected 
increase in spending on independent expenditures.  In particular, we 
support passage of the Fair Elections Now Act." 
# # #

----- Forwarded by Josh Dorner/Sierraclub on 01/21/2010 11:16 AM -----

From:   "Josh Dorner, Sierra Club" <[email-masked]>
To:     [email-masked]
Date:   01/21/2010 11:12 AM
Subject:        High Court Unleashes Tsunami of Corporate Cash w/ Citizens 
United Ruling

View a web version of this email.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 21, 2010
CONTACT: Josh Dorner, 202.675.2384
High Court Unleashes Tsunami of 
Corporate Cash with Citizens United Ruling
Washington, D.C.--The U.S. Supreme Court today, in its ruling in the case 
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, struck down significant 
portions of campaign finance laws.  In particular, the case removed 
restrictions in place for decades that have limited campaign spending from 
corporations.  The Sierra Club offered the following comments in response.
The High Court's ruling can be viewed here:
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/09pdf/08-205.pdf
Statement of Cathy Duvall, Political Director of Sierra Club
"We are extremely troubled and dismayed by today's decision.  It appears 
that the High Court confirmed our worst fears with its sweeping ruling 
that cast aside the laws that protected us from unlimited corporate 
campaign spending. 
"Congress is already awash in a sea of special interest money; this 
decision will launch a tsunami of corporate cash whose purpose is to 
overrun the public's interests.  Big Oil, Dirty Coal, and other special 
interests have a stranglehold on the Congress and today's ruling will 
further endanger the ability of citizens to influence the political 
process.  This ruling could put today's "pay-to-play" political culture on 
steroids. 
"We already have very clear indications of the dangers that lie ahead. The 
U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has been involved in today's case, 
reported just yesterday that it spent a record-breaking $71 million on 
lobbying last quarter.  Even before today's decision, it has already been 
laundering hundreds of millions of dollars in corporate cash, most notably 
for the health insurance industry and polluters, and has pledged to spend 
tens of millions of dollars in this year's elections.  Now it and the 
special interests that fund it will be allowed to spend limitless amounts 
not only in the legislative process, but to support or oppose individual 
candidates. 
"Now only Congress can stem the tidal wave of special interest cash and 
influence peddling that is about to overwhelm the electoral process.  The 
Sierra Club has long supported campaign finance reform and we now urge 
Congress to find a solution to help candidates combat the expected 
increase in spending on independent expenditures.  In particular, we 
support passage of the Fair Elections Now Act." 
# # #

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