Fisher Proposes Steps to Protect American Democracy, Limit Corporate Money in Wake of Flawed Supreme Court Ruling

“Americans Should Determine Elections, Not Corporations,” Fisher Says

Challenges Portman to Join Effort to Curb Corporate Interference in our Democracy

COLUMBUS – With the Senate Budget Committee reviewing steps to curb a recent Supreme Court ruling allowing unfettered corporate political spending, Lt. Governor Lee Fisher outlined a plan to ensure that American voters determine elections – not multinational corporations and special interests.

Fisher challenged Rob Portman to put Ohio voters over special interests and support legislation that would limit corporate interference in our elections.

The Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission allows corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money to advocate for the election or defeat of a particular candidate, and provides the same rights of political “speech” to multinational corporations as are given to American citizens.

Fisher said, “If there’s one thing I have not heard in all my time in public service, it’s that more corporate money is needed in our elections. Our democracy is founded on the principle that one person has one vote – not one corporation, one vote. Americans should determine our elections, not corporations hostile to the U.S.”

Fisher added, “Will Rob Portman continue to stand with Wall Street and special interest lobbyists or will he join the effort and stand with Ohio voters and ensure that their voices aren’t drowned out by corporate money?”

The ruling also left open the possibility that foreign corporations and their U.S. subsidiaries could undermine our elections by spending an unlimited amount of corporate dollars in an attempt to elect politicians who would treat them favorably.

Fisher is proposing a series of steps for Congress to take to protect American democracy, including prohibiting foreign companies from interfering in our democracy, and requiring that the owners of American companies – the shareholders – approve of any political speech on their behalf.

Fisher Plan to Protect American Elections from Corporate Interference
1.   Ban any foreign company or foreign-owned U.S. subsidiary from spending money advocating the election or defeat of a candidate.
2.   Bar companies that receive grants, loans, funding or contracts from the federal government from direct advocacy in elections;
3.   Require shareholders and boards of directors to vote and approve of any political advocacy spending by U.S. corporations on American elections.