Shining a Light on Secret Money

(This article first appeared in the May-June 2015 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.)

Since 2010, the amount of “dark money” – campaign funds whose source is kept secret – has skyrocketed, thanks to the Supreme Court ruling known as Citizens United. But the APWU and several other groups are asking President Obama to shine a light on the shady situation.

Although a five-year citizen campaign has brought attention to the issue, the Citizens United ruling that green-lights secret money still stands, and Congress has not even tried to overturn it.

However, there is now a new initiative to curb the abuses of corporate power without waiting for Congress to act: More than 50 national organizations are urging President Obama to issue an executive order requiring government contractors to reveal their contributions to influence elections. Signatories include the Sierra Club, NAACP, Government Accountability Project, Communications Workers of America and 99 Rise.

“We’re now living in a Wild West campaign spending world,” the petition says. “It is imperative that you act. There is no single solution to the problem of big money dominance. In fact, there are many desperately needed solutions. Today, we urge you to act on one option immediately – tackling the issue of corruption in government contracting.”

APWU President Mark Dimondstein noted that delegates to the union’s 2014 National Convention adopted a resolution that declared, “Money isn’t speech and corporations aren’t people.”

“Let’s make sure President Obama hears our voice,” he said. “Let’s make sure he acts now to shine a light on secret money.”

For more information or to sign the petition, visit www.GetMoneyOutAction.org.