Today marks the 13 year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s disastrous decision in #CitizensUnited v. F.E.C. which opened the door for billionaires and corporate America to buy influence and power in Washington.
Here are 10 ways the decision has eroded our democracy: a thread 🧵
Here are 10 ways the decision has eroded our democracy: a thread 🧵
Outside groups have spent over $9 billion in federal elections since the #CitizensUnited decision 13 years ago.
Over $1 billion in undisclosed and untraceable dark money was spent in the 2020 election cycle alone.
Over 96% of all outside spending in federal elections in the past 30 years has come since #CitizensUnited.
Nearly $6.4 billion has been spent by super PACs since 2010 - almost 4X what it cost to make all eleven Star Wars movies.
The top 100 mega donors in the 2022 cycle spent $1.2 billion - 60% more than given by all 3.7 million small donors that cycle.
Wall Street has been the top industry contributor in federal elections since #CitizensUnited with over $3.9 billion in contributions, including over $2 billion in just the past two election cycles.
In the election cycles following the 2010 #CitizensUnited decision, the pharmaceuticals/ health products industry has given over $67 million to outside groups.
The Gun Lobby has spent over $171 million in outside spending since 2010, nearly three times more than what safety advocates have spent.
Oil & gas companies accounted for over half of corporate contributions to outside groups in the 2020 cycle of over $1 million – with every contribution going to GOP super PACs and dark money groups.
Corporate special interests gave $69.5 million to support insurrectionists members of Congress.
On this anniversary, we are rededicating ourselves to overturning #CitizensUnited, electing champions of democracy, increasing transparency, empowering small donors, and fighting back against corruption because our #DemocracyIsNotForSale.
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