Statement of America Votes President Joan Fitz-Gerald: U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizen United Decision

For Immediate Release                                                 22 January 2010

Statement of America Votes President Joan Fitz-Gerald

U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United Decision

"This decision enables right-wing special interests to unleash a torrent of spending in campaigns. Progressives must level the playing field against attack ads through our advantage in grassroots organizing and direct voter contact.

"The grassroots work of America Votes and over 300 progressive partner organizations is a vital progressive response to this decision. Without a strong grassroots campaign, the right-wing may succeed in selling our democracy to highest bidder through attack ads."

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Founded in 2003, America Votes is the centerpiece of a permanent progressive campaign infrastructure nationally and in the states.  Our coalition coordinates independent campaign activity, shares innovative strategies and resources to maximize impact and ensures that progressive voter mobilization builds lasting capacity.

In 2008, the work of America Votes' 53 national and over 300 state partners led to 62,583,754 contacts to targeted voters in 14 states and 1,167,894 voter registration applications.  America Votes provided data, voter modeling and campaign targeting to 362 progressive groups, coordinated 13.7 million door knocks.

CONTACT:     America Votes, 202/962-7240