Washington, DC – In an attempt to block the ‘American Health Care Act’ from passing the House of Representatives, well-funded special interests are promising to raise millions for Freedom Caucus members who vote no.
“The Koch Brothers’ offer to make huge contributions to those conservative members of the House who vote against the leadership’s healthcare legislation shows once again the deeply corrupting influence of big money in politics,” said Chris Carson, president of the League of Women Voters.
“The American people have long believed that campaign contributions from big money and special interests are bribery, and today’s action shows how true it is. ‘You give me your vote, and we’ll give you the money.’ That’s just not right,” said Carson.
“This shows once again that the Supreme Court made a tragic and long-lasting mistake in Citizens United when they ruled in favor of the role of big money in American politics,” she said. “That case changed the landscape of modern politics by ushering in this era of powerful SuperPACS.”
The League opposes the American Health Care Act, though for different reasons than the Koch Brothers.
“Nonetheless, by dangling big money in front of members of Congress, this action threatens our democratic process. Legislators are supposed to vote in the interest of the American people, not funding their political campaigns,” Carson stated.
The League is deeply committed to reforming our nation’s campaign finance system to ensure the public’s right to know, combat corruption and undue influence, enable candidates to compete more equitably for public office and allow maximum citizen participation in the political process.
