Small Business United v. Citizens United
Two years ago on January 21, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its ruling in the controversial Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission case. In a divided 5-4 decision, the majority ruled that corporations are free to spend unlimited sums of money in our country’s elections.
Poll: Small Business Owners Say Citizens United Decision is Bad for Small Business
Two-thirds of American small business owners believe the controversial U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Citizens United v. FEC case handed down two years ago on January 21 hurts small companies, according to an independent national survey of 500 small business owners released on January 18 by the Main Street Alliance, the American Sustainable Business Council, and Small Business Majority.
Click here to read the press release from MSA, SBM, and ASBC
November 10: Small Business Owners Demand Banks, Health Insurers, Oil Companies Come Clean on Dark Money
Small Business Owners to Banks, Insurers, Energy Companies: “How Are You Spending Our Money?”
Washington, DC—Small business owners in the Main Street Alliance network launched the “Business Against Dark Money” campaign today, calling on banks, health insurers, and oil companies to fully disclose their “dark money” spending – dues and contributions to trade associations and other third parties that can then be used for political purposes, often to advance big business interests at the expense of small businesses, without disclosure of the original source.
Click here to view the full press release
Missoula, MT City Council Challenges Citizens United Decision
On August 22, the Missoula, Montana City Council voted 9-1 to place a measure on the city’s November 2011 ballot challenging the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling that allows corporations to spend unlimited funds to influence elections. The resolution urges state and federal lawmakers to amend the Constitution to “clearly state that corporations are not human beings and do not have the same rights as citizens.”
What’s at stake for small businesses? The flood of corporate money into elections since Citizens United threatens to drown out small business voices on important issues. Overturning Citizens United would help level the playing field for small businesses.
Read more about the Missoula City Council resolution in this article in the Missoulian.
June 27: Small Businesses Respond to High Court’s Divided Ruling Monday on Public Financing Laws
MSA leaders say decision striking trigger provisions allows corporate players to buy political influence uncontested, at expense of small businesses
WASHINGTON, DC – On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in McComish v. Bennett, a case testing some state public financing laws. In a 5-4 decision, the Court ruled narrowly that trigger-based matching funds provisions of some states’ public financing laws are unconstitutional, while leaving the foundation of public financing systems intact.
