On the recordJune 20, 2012
Justice Brandeis said that sunlight is the best disinfectant. Sadly, in Citizens United, the Roberts' Court has turned its back on this wisdom, and it has given corporations the power to influence our government from the shadows. To say that these are not dark days for our democracy is not an understatement. Millions upon millions of dollars are flowing into our political system through super PACs, but the identities of the donors who supply this money remain hidden. Let's not fool ourselves. Let's not fool ourselves into thinking that the identities of these donors are a secret to the politicians whose campaigns are being helped by their money. To ignore the potential for unseemly influence here is truly naive. When one donor can decide the fate of a legislator's reelection, they clearly wield a great deal of power. We should come together to pass the DISCLOSE Act, which allows the public to see who is making these mega-donations, and together we can let sunlight back into our democracy. ____________________
