October 23, 2023 - WASHINGTON - Representatives Josh Harder (CA-9) and Jared Golden (ME-2) have re-introduced the Ban Corporate PACs Actwhich would ban all corporate Political Action Committees (PACs). During the 2022 midterm election cycle, corporate PACs gave over $360 million to federal campaigns, the most of any type of PAC. During the 2020 election cycle which included the presidential election, corporate PACs gave more than $400 million to federal campaigns.

Representative Josh Harder (D-CA-9)

"Washington isn’t working because the system is set up to work for big-money corporations, not our families. Too many votes on Capitol Hill are bought and sold, and it’s just plain corrupt," said Rep. Harder. "We need to clean up Washington and the first step to doing that is weeding big money out of politics. The Ban Corporate PACs Act brings us one step closer to making sure our government is working for those who actually matter – our families."

“Endless corporate spending has crowded peoples’ voices out of their own elections, and our country is worse off for it. It’s past time that the voices of everyday voters took center stage again, and this legislation will send a clear message that our elections are not for sale. I’m proud to join Congressman Harder in introducing this legislation,” said Rep. Golden.

“As long as corporations have unfettered access to lawmakers, our government can never be truly representative of the people,” said Tiffany Muller, President of End Citizens United // Let America Vote Action Fund. “The corrosive and corrupting influence of corporate PAC money in Congress is at the root of the gridlock and dysfunction that’s preventing progress on every major issue area. We must sever the ties between special interests and our elected officials so that our government works for all Americans. We're incredibly thankful to Representatives Harder and Golden for their continued leadership and advocacy to root out corruption in Washington.”

Harder and Golden's Ban Corporate PACs Act would amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit for-profit corporations from being allowed to sponsor, operate, or fund a separate segregated fund, commonly known as a PAC. This bill also dissolves existing corporate PACs one year after enactment. Corporate PACs are often established by corporations to influence policy, with corporations able to fund the creation and operation of the PAC and solicit contributions. In many cases, corporate PACs are controlled by corporate lobbyists and expressly make contributions to forward business interests.
Source: Representative Josh Harder