January 2020 marks the 10th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. The Citizens United decision opened the floodgates of corporate spending in election campaigns. Ten years later, a report issued by Public Citizen shows that corporations and megadonors have poured nearly $2 billion into election campaigns since Citizens United.

Campaign financing has a fundamental influence on the public policy process, impacting who is at the table when policy decisions are made and in whose interests those decisions are made.

Advocates for justice and good governance have put forth a variety of legislative measures to address the corrosive power of big money in election campaigns. In March 2019, the U.S. House passed the “For the People Act,” (H.R. 1) a sweeping bill aimed at protecting the rights of American voters and addressing the disproportionate power of large donors in election campaigns. The bill includes provisions requiring Super PACs and “dark money” organizations to make their donors public and adds a constitutional amendment overturning Citizens United.

A companion bill (S.949) was introduced in the Senate, but it continues to languish the Senate “legislative graveyard” of bills that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refuses to bring forward for a vote on the Senate floor.

The prophets warned against leaders who would accept bribes and “make laws that make misery for the poor,” (Isaiah 10). As people of faith, we recognize the responsibility of government to seek justice for all people and to build the common good. Justice cannot be achieved unless the rules governing the democratic process are just and fair to all. Central to that process is a citizen’s free vote – not limited by the powers of money, social class, and unequal access to media.

In this pivotal election year, we must restore integrity to our democratic process and undo the damage done by Citizens United. Every vote should matter, and every vote should count. Urge your senators to break the logjam in the Senate and support the For the People Act.