In his last State of the Union address tonight, President Obama said that we need "to reduce the influence of money in our politics, so that a handful of families or hidden interests can’t bankroll our elections.” In response, People For the American Way Executive Vice President Marge Baker released the following statement:

“Highlighting the problem of big money in politics in his final State of the Union address was not only the right thing to do, it's also completely in line with the beliefs of Americans. Voters are hungry for a democracy where the voices of everyday people aren't drowned out by an endless deluge of money from wealthy special interests.

“But the president can do more than highlight the problem. He can create real change with just the stroke of his pen, by issuing an executive order requiring companies with government contracts to disclose their political spending.

“Time is running out for the president to define his legacy on money in politics. Will he go down in history as a president who helped expose secret money in our democracy, or as one whose inspiring rhetoric wasn’t backed up by action?”

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