Reclaiming the Peoples' Voice
Money Out of Politics in Washington (MOP WASH)
A Washington State Proposal for reining in political spending
In 2010, the Supreme Court decision “Citizens United” removed restrictions on independent political expenditures, saying they violate the First Amendment right to free speech – thus giving corporations and artificial entities the rights of people. Since then, Americans have been subject to billions of dollars of dark money, independent expenditures, and political manipulation. In 2008 about $574 Million of outside money was spent on elections. In 2024, after Citizens United, it was $4.5 BILLION. This unaccountable money has skewed elections and corrupted the legislative process, undermining the people’s faith in government and creating policies that go against our best interests.
Overturning Citizens United would require action at the Federal level – impossible in the near term. But there is hope. Since corporations are “artificial persons” – legal entities created by the States – it is the States who determine what powers they can have. States can DENY to corporations and other artificial entities the power to spend money on elections.
Hawaii passed a law to this effect in May of this year. Montana and Michigan are expected to enact such a law this November. Right now, thirty states are considering similar legislation. Polling shows that over 80% of Americans across party lines say that special interests and campaign donors have too much say in politics.
Representative Clyde Shavers will introduce a bill in the Washington State Legislature in early 2027 that will deny corporations the power to spend money on elections in this state. It is up to all of us to make our representatives understand that we expect them to enact it.
What can we do?
Talk up the issue. Tell everyone about our path in Washington to get Money Out of Politics – M-O-P WASH. Passing this legislation will take us back to pre-Citizen’s United rules.
Attend Candidate Forums and legislator meetings and ask candidates and officials in public whether they support this legislation. And if they don’t answer, or say no, ask why Big Money is more important to them than what their constituents want.
Write, email, phone or visit your Washington state legislators NOW. Tell them you are outraged at the influence of money in politics and you want them to endorse a bill to reform corporate powers, and pass this legislation to deny to artificial legal entities the power to expend resources in elections.
The same message makes a great letter to the editor or opinion piece. Write one. Your letter will inform and encourage others, and build public support.
In addition to the above, here are a few messages:
Money in politics creates government that is responsive to donors, not the people. We can stop this.
We expect and need our legislators to work for us, not Big Money. Government should work for the People, not the Powerful.
The influence of money on public decision-making is clear, the public overwhelmingly supports (80%!) stopping it.
This legislation would affirm individual political freedom, fortify the distinction between citizenship and artificial legal status, and position Washington state to join emerging state-led efforts across the USA. Further, as other states are protecting themselves from the corrupting power of money in politics through this legal framework, the remaining unprotected states may see even greater deluges of Dark Money. We don’t want Washington to be one of them.
It’s well past time for political spending reform. If you agree that money in politics serves the powerful, not the people, and if you believe in free and fair elections, and that the determination of the people must override the desires of the influential, then please endorse and enact this legislation to get Money Out of Politics in Washington. (MOP WASH)
The League of Women Voters of Washington State has endorsed this proposed legislation!
Model letter:
Dear Representative (or Senator) _____________________,
As your constituent (or "as a concerned citizen"), I am extremely concerned about the influence of Corporate Money, Big Money, and Dark Money on our elections and our policies. The voices of citizens are being drowned out and our government is no longer accountable to the people. Washington State needs to pursue legislation that would deny to corporations and other artificial legal entities the power to spend in elections and ballot measures. I urge you to support any effort in the next legislative session to reform corporate spending and end the devastating effects of Citizens United.
Respectfully, …
