Campaign finance in the United States

You’ve seen what Citizens United has done to federal politics. Now, imagine if we let the same thing happen at the state and local level.

Imagine unrelenting attack ads accusing your state treasurer of being a socialist — or accusing your state legislator of being a secret Muslim — or of your city councilor waging a war against religious freedom.

Right-wing groups are dismantling campaign finance laws across the country to allow unlimited corporate spending up and down the ballot in all 50 states.

We’ve got to fight back. Last week, we launched our campaign to get attorneys general across the country to stand up for common sense campaign finance laws.

The response has been amazing. So far, over 75,000 DFA members have joined our campaign.

Can you contribute $4 right now to get your Attorney General to stand up for common sense campaign finance laws?

All you need to do is look at Montana to see how far right-wing groups are willing to go to undo common sense campaign finance laws — and exactly how your Attorney General can stop them.

Montana’s ban on corporate spending in political campaigns was challenged in court — and Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock stood up to defend it. He fought hard to keep it on the books and took his case all the way to the Montana Supreme Court.

He won.

That is the sort of leadership we need from AGs today. Please contribute now to fuel the campaign.

Thank you for everything you do.

– Michael

Michael Langenmayr, Political Director
Democracy for America

Two years ago, the Supreme Court decided that big corporations and the super rich have a “right” to spend unlimited amounts of money in our elections. The Justices that supported this ridiculous decision just expected states to fall in line behind the ruling and abandon their campaign finance laws, but they haven’t.

States like Montana are fighting back against Citizens United — and they’re winning.

Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock took his fight to keep common sense election laws on the books all the way to the Montana Supreme Court — and he won. It’s time that other State Attorneys General do the same.

Back-up Steve Bullock in his fight against Citizens United — Sign the petition to get your Attorney General to stand up for common sense campaign finance laws.

Right-wing groups like Citizens United aren’t stopping at the federal level. They’re dismantling campaign finance laws across the country — working to allow unlimited corporate spending up and down the ballot and even to undo basic disclosure laws that require campaigns to report who’s giving these unlimited contributions.

We’ve seen what the Citizens United ruling has done to federal politics — attack ads flooded the airwaves in 2010 and are dominating the Republican presidential primaries. We can’t allow that same sort of unlimited corporate spending at the state and local levels.

The campaign to overturn Citizens United is going to be a long one, but state Attorneys General can make a real difference right now — and you can get them off the sidelines.

Tell your Attorney General to stand up for common sense campaign finance laws — Sign the petition now.

Thank you for everything you do.

– Michael

Michael Langenmayr, Political Director
Democracy for America