CWA Statement on Senate Vote on Democracy for All Amendment

Washington, D.C. -- Statement by Larry Cohen, president of the Communications Workers of America, on the failure of the Senate today to move to a final vote on the “Democracy for All” amendment:

It is distressing to see the polarization of the U.S. Supreme Court, and now the Senate, on the critical issue of getting big money out of our politics. Every Democrat in the Senate has stood up for the ability of Congress to set reasonable limits on money in politics.  Every Republican has voted for no limits, even though many had previously supported reform, led by Senator John McCain.

This vote is a huge marker as to what America is becoming. We are on our way to control by the wealthy of nearly all aspects of public and economic policy.  As workers, we see our rights trampled every day.  This has only worsened over the past 40 years, as the Chamber of Commerce continues its relentless focus on wiping out any balance between the voice of working Americans and management. 

Today's vote makes it clear that the Republican Senate is joined at the hip with the billionaires who increasingly dominate our lives and prevent fair elections and real debate on the critical issues of the day.  We will continue to build the Democracy Initiative and work as broadly as possible with millions of Americans to change this, not only by amendment but by adopting fair disclosure rules, public financing at the state level and many other measures that enable citizens to Stand Up and Fight Back.

Contact: Candice Johnson or Michael Allen, CWA Communications, 202-434-1168, cjohnson@cwa-union.org and mallen@cwa-union.org