FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 09/08/2023

ANCHORAGE — Today, the U.S. Senate is considering a constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling to stop corporations and billionaires, like the Koch brothers, from spending unlimited amounts of money to buy our elections. Mark Begich wants to overturn the flawed court ruling that granted corporations the same rights as people.

Dan Sullivan continues to support unlimited spending by corporations and billionaires in elections.

“Outside groups like the Koch brothers and Karl Rove have committed to spend nearly $10 million additional dollars in Alaska between now and election day. It’s clear they’ll do anything to buy Alaska’s senate seat for Dan Sullivan. It’s outrageous the Kochs kill Alaska jobs by closing the Flint Hills refinery while spending millions on ads attacking Mark Begich,” said Max Croes, Communications Director for Alaskans for Begich.

Mark Begich supports a constitutional amendment to permanently overturn the CitizensUnited ruling and has signed theWe The People Alaska pledge stating his belief that corporations are not people.

Begich has supported transparency efforts such as the DISCLOSE Act, legislation Dan Sullivan does not support, and supports Alaska state law which requires ads to disclose top donors.

Here’s what’s been said about Sullivan’s support for unlimited spending by corporations:

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner:

The disharmony between Sullivan’s stances on political campaigns in general and the specific race he is running this fall is peculiar, and doesn’t support his stated intentions in seeking the agreement… But we can’t square that intention with the facts of how this year’s Senate race is being conducted — and with Mr. Sullivan’s unwillingness to support limits on campaign finance in races other than his own. [Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Editorial, 6/15/2014]

Alaska Commons:

Dan Sullivan’s ‘Alaska Agreement’ More About Politics than Fairness[Alaska Commons, 6/13/2014]

Washington Post:

On the conference call, Sullivan was repeatedly asked whether he supports” Citizen’s United.” Without answering directly, Sullivan responded that he supports “strong Supreme Court court decisions that strengthen free speech.” Afterward, he affirmed his support for “CitizensUnited” in a tweet. [Washington Post, 6/10/2023]

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