$9 billion spent on elections is a policy failure

I introduced a Constitutional Amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United, to protect our elections from unrestrained spending by wealthy donors and corporations, and to allow for public financing of elections. [Adam Schiff for Congress]( {NAME} — This year’s midterm elections will be the most expensive in U.S. history — even more expensive than the 2020 presidential election. With total ad spending in excess of $9 billion, much of that money will be funneled through dark money Super PACs with no contribution limits whatsoever, and without any transparency. Since the presidential ballot is not at the top of the ticket, that record spending will be entirely concentrated on control of Congress and many other important down ballot races. That’s alarming, and a real policy failure. Corporations and billionaires can spend untold amounts of money for their preferred candidates — or just as often to tear down those they dislike with a deluge of nasty, negative, and often false advertising. Now more than ever, we need to protect the voice of the American voter and combat the corrupting influence of dark money over our elections. That’s why earlier this year, I introduced a Constitutional Amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United, to protect our elections from unrestrained spending by wealthy donors and corporations, and to allow for public financing of elections. It’s past time. [{NAME}, as a matter of principle, will you add your name to become a citizen co-sponsor of my Constitutional Amendment to overturn Citizens United as we enter this period of unprecedented midterm election spending?]( [ADD YOUR NAME]( The Supreme Court’s decision in the landmark Citizens United v. FEC case overturned decades of precedent, deregulated corporate campaign spending, and allowed billions of dollars in dark money to flow into our elections. This terrible decision resulted in an endless deluge of sensationalized and misinformed political ads which have divided and disillusioned our country. Dark money has weakened the voices of our people and opened the door for anti-democratic interests to sway the tides of public opinion. Individuals and corporations routinely try to buy elections at the local, state, and federal levels. Too often, they seem to succeed. This is not how our democracy should function. One person, one vote. Drowning out or diminishing a voter’s voice with the power of large corporate spending is at odds with how our system is supposed to work. I know that this Constitutional Amendment is a tall task to accomplish with the filibuster and the present divisions in Congress and the country. But it’s the right thing to do — and putting emphasis on it now as billions of dollars are spent over the next several weeks is an important way to highlight the predicament we find ourselves in as a country and a democracy. [{NAME}, add your name and become a citizen co-sponsor of my Constitutional Amendment to overturn Citizens United and reject the corrupting influence of dark money that will be flooding our airwaves in the weeks to come.]( [ADD YOUR NAME]( We must not accept a status quo where the power of wealthy donors and corporations is magnified while the strength of voices like yours is minimized. That’s why I’m so proud of the way our campaign is funded, through small grassroots donors like you. And it’s time we close this dangerous Citizens United loophole and make it a requirement of ALL campaigns to ensure that individual Americans have the most say in our elections. Thank you for your support. — Adam 150 E. Olive Ave., Suite 208 Burbank CA, 91502 [www.adamschiff.com]( | contact@adamschiff.com | [Privacy Policy]( PAID FOR AND AUTHORIZED BY SCHIFF FOR CONGRESS If you wish to no longer receive these messages, please [unsubscribe.](