Congressman Cohen Presides at Hearing on the Supreme Court’s Citizens United Decision

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, today presided over a hearing on "Citizens United at 10: The Consequences for Democracy and Potential Responses by Congress."

In his opening statement, Congressman Cohen said:

"In handing down its decision in Citizens United, the Supreme Court overturned decades-old precedents that held that the government could regulate outside spending by corporations and unions…It is now 10 years later, and we are seeing the negative effects of a decade of permitting wealthy mega donors and corporations pouring unlimited amounts of money into our elections.

"Perhaps now more than ever, many Americans believe that their elected leaders do not care about them, that politicians only care about raising money and prioritizing the narrow interests of the moneyed classes or corporations, and that the political system is rigged against them. They believe that their voices will be drowned out come the elections by the megaphones bought by dark money. Example after example shows that they are right."

See Congressman Cohen's entire opening statement here.

See Congressman Cohen's exchange with hearing witnesses here.

Today's hearing witnesses were:

Congressman Ted Deutch of Florida

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal of Washington

Commissioner Ellen Weintraub of the Federal Election Commission

Robert Weissman, President, Public Citizen

Law Professor Bradley Smith of Capital University Law School

Law Professor Ciara Torres-Spelliscy of Stetson University Law School

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