People For the American Way

PFAW Statement on Sanders Plan to Fight Big Money in Politics

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 19, 2015

Contact: Layne Amerikaner or Laura Epstein at People For the American Way

Email: [email protected]

Phone Number: 202-467-4999

WASHINGTON – Sen. Bernie Sanders has released an agenda for addressing the influx of big money in our democracy. His plan outlines reform measures including a constitutional amendment to overturn decisions like Citizens United and Buckley v. Valeo, small donor public financing, and increased transparency in political spending. His agenda also includes measures to strengthen voting rights, such as expanding early voting and restoring the protections of the Voting Rights Act, which were gutted by the Supreme Court’s Shelby County decision in 2013.

People For the American Way president Michael Keegan issued the following statement:

“Bernie Sanders has been consistently speaking out about the problem of big money in politics throughout his campaign, and he should be commended for releasing a plan highlighting the solutions.

“Americans are of one mind on the issue of money in politics. Across the board, voters think Citizens United should be overturned and want to see elected leaders put policies in place to fix our broken campaign finance system. Sanders should be applauded for putting the issue front and center in his campaign.”

Sanders’ plan includes numerous policies outlined in the “Fighting Big Money” agenda, a comprehensive platform that People For the American Way and 12 other organizations released in July and have called on every candidate to endorse and prioritize.

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