On Thursday, Senator Jacky Rosen highlighted her legislative endeavors to curb the influence of special interests and insider trading in politics.
Senator Rosen held an event at the Democratic Party of Washoe County campaign office in Reno, in collaboration with the national grassroots organization End Citizens United.
Federal lawmakers from both parties are working together to address what they view as corruption in Washington, D.C.
"It's been nearly 15 years since the disastrous Citizens United decision, which has made our elections vulnerable to influence from giant corporations, the ultra-wealthy dark money groups, and decades later, we're seeing those effects right here in Nevada," said (D-NV) U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen.
The United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of Citizens United in 2010, essentially allowing corporations, unions, and non-profits to make large independent expenditures to support political candidates with financial resources. Senator Jacky Rosen highlighted her legislative efforts to rein it in.
"She's fighting to close the revolving door between members of Congress and the influence industry between them becoming lobbyists, and that's a huge door because right now, about 2/3rds of members of Congress go on to become lobbyists," said End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller.
End Citizen United's mission is to remove big money from politics, protect and expand the right to vote, and give greater democratic power back to the country's citizens.
"Too many Americans feel like they are being left out and left behind. That big money, the corporate special interests, and the biggest donors are calling the shots in Washington. And, Senator Rosen is doing something about it," said Tiffany Muller.
Senator Rosen is sponsoring several bills addressing corporate and special interests in U.S. politics.
"I am proud to work for Nevadans to close the loopholes that benefit corrupt politicians, which is why I introduced and helped pass bipartisan legislation that will stop members of Congress convicted of crimes on the job from collecting those taxpayer pensions."
Rosen led the bipartisan No Corruption Act, which means that any member of Congress found guilty of felonies related to their official duties will no longer receive taxpayer-funded pensions.
Rosen has co-sponsored a bill preventing members of Congress from trading stocks while they're in office and stopping them and their staff from becoming lobbyists after leaving office.
Rosen also proposes legislation prohibiting Supreme Court judges from getting gifts from special interests.
"We have a binding code of ethics for the Supreme Court that's just been put out there with leader Schumer. We are signing on to be sure our Supreme Court has ethics that are transparent," said Rosen.
We reached out to Republican senate candidate Sam Brown's campaign and they responded with the following statement:
Update, 5:53 pm 8/16/2024 (Sam Brown's team sent us the quote at 12:30 pm)
"End Citizens United is a dark money group who raises money by saying they want to end dark money groups. That is almost as hypocritical as a multimillionaire like Jacky Rosen who broke the law with insider stock trading telling working families in Nevada that she is helping them. The reality is she cast the deciding vote for all of the Biden-Harris economic agenda that caused Nevada to have the 2nd highest unemployment in the nation and skyrocketing prices on food and gas. No amount of dark money from anti-dark money groups is going to fix that." Kristy Wilkinson, Communications Director
“While Senator Jacky Rosen is fighting for better transparency, accountability, and ethics to put Washington back on the side of working people instead of corporate special interests, Sam Brown has been a walking campaign finance violation and is clearly only out for himself,” said End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller. “Senator Rosen is a forceful champion for democracy reform, and Nevada needs her in the Senate taking on the giant corporations and Washington corruption and continuing her track record as one of the most bipartisan, independent, and effective Senators.”
