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Before the Supreme Court issued its decision in Citizens United ten years ago, Congress had set reasonable limits on individuals’ ability to influence federal elections through campaign contributions, the product of a historic, bipartisan compromise led by Senators John McCain and Russ Feingold.  Over the past decade, however, the Citizens United ruling has upended federal elections by allowing unlimited and undisclosed donations to organizations seeking to sway voters’ views on candidates and causes, often through misinformation.

As we observe the first Martin Luther King Day of a new decade, let us look to Dr. King’s teachings and legacy of moral courage for inspiration as we seek to turn the page from a time of division into one of greater unity, respect, and love of neighbor.  Dr. King asked his fellow Americans to harness what he called the ‘drum major instinct’ – that we should rein in that basic human urge for attention, which too often leads us to seek it in the wrong ways, and apply it instead toward gaining attention for our good works, public service, and acts of love and kindness. 

This week, the House voted on a resolution to transmit articles of impeachment to the Senate and name House impeachment managers who will present the case against the President. As the trial in the Senate gets underway,  I am urging every senator to honor the oath they took to “do impartial justice.

Today, the government’s independent watchdog agency, the Government Accountability Office, confirmed that President Trump violated the law when it withheld Congressionally appropriated military aid to Ukraine. 

Congress appropriated emergency disaster aid for the people of Puerto Rico, and it is up to the President to ensure that this aid reaches the those who need it – not to sit on it and refuse to disburse that aid to Puerto Ricans.  After a serious of terrible disasters, including two major hurricanes and a series of earthquakes, Puerto Ricans are trying to rebuild their homes, communities, and lives. 

This month marks ten years since the Supreme Court’s major ruling in the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission case. The ruling removed reasonable campaign contribution limits and has allowed a small group of individuals and corporations to spend enormous sums of money on campaigns without disclosing their identities. As a result, this “dark” money has been able to drown out the will of the people on key issues.
 

This week, the House passed a war powers resolution to limit the President’s military actions regarding Iran. Iran is a dangerous sponsor of terror, and this Administration must articulate a clear, long-term strategy to address the threat posed by Iran as well as promote stability in the region. When the Administration briefed Congress this week, it failed to outline such a strategy and refused to answer serious questions regarding the strike that killed Qasem Soleimani. No one mourns his death, but Americans across the country are concerned about what comes next. I continue to call on the President and his Administration to develop a clear, long-term strategy that keeps Americans safe, helps stabilize the region, and protects our allies.

This month’s jobs report marks the last of a decade that began with unemployment near 10% as we reeled from the worst of the Great Recession.  That decade now ends amid an economic expansion marked by 111 consecutive months – more than nine years – of job growth. While President Trump will continue to claim credit for a strong economy, this month’s report caps a year that ranks a mere eighth in the 2010’s for job creation.  Rather than focusing solely on a stock market buoyed by record stock buybacks and dividends, a deeper dive into the true measures of our economic health ought to give us some pause.