CWA Statement on the U.S. Supreme Court's Decision on McCutcheon v. FEC

Washington, D.C. -- The following is a statement by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) on the Supreme Court’s decision in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission:

The Supreme Court continues to confuse money and speech, causing real harm to our democratic election process. Four years ago, the court’s Citizens United decision opened the floodgates to unlimited corporate spending in our elections. Today, the court’s 5-4 decision struck down aggregate contribution limits, so that one super-wealthy donor can now inject up to $3.6 million into our politics to candidates and parties -- shattering one of the remaining campaign finance laws on the books.

These spending caps are critical to stop the corrupting influence of big money in politics. Unfortunately, thanks to Citizens United, we already know how today’s decision will further erode our democracy and disenfranchise ordinary Americans. The super-rich will join corporations in using their millions to pressure elected officials for special access, policy agendas and tax breaks and to flood the airwaves with anonymous political messages. Working and middle class families will find their voices even more diminished. The result likely will be even more “pay-to-play politics” and political inequality than we’ve seen since 2010 and Citizens United, and even more disillusionment in the political process by ordinary Americans.  Decisions by this Supreme Court have made it more difficult for ordinary Americans to vote in an election but have made it much easier for the super-rich to buy an election.

Money does not equal speech. We cannot stand by while the super-rich and corporations have an even greater say in our democracy just because they have fatter wallets. That’s why CWA has joined with other groups in the Democracy Initiative to promote public financing and fight the ever increasing amount of big money in politics.  Today, CWA activists and allies will be protesting the decision at more than 150 rapid response events around the country. Find those locations and more information at  http://www.moneyout-votersin.org/

Contact: Candice Johnson or Kendra Chaikind, CWA Communications, 202-434-1168, cjohnson@cwa-union.org  and kchaikind@cwa-union.org