PHOTO RELEASE: ECU, Tester, and Forstag Tout Anti-Corruption Reform in Bozeman
Bozeman, MT — End Citizens United (ECU), a leading national anti-corruption organization, held a town hall in Bozeman with congressional candidate Sam Forstag and former U.S. Senator Jon Tester, who also serves as an ECU Senior Fellow.
The event highlighted how corruption in Washington is driving up costs for Montana families. Moderated by ECU President Tiffany Muller, the conversation focused on how working families are paying more for everyday necessities because too many politicians in Congress are putting wealthy donors and special interests first. Forstag discussed his plan to crack down on corruption, which includes prohibiting congressional stock trading, banning political spending by corporations and super PACs, and barring members of Congress from becoming lobbyists.
“Montanans have found themselves paying more for their housing, groceries, and health care,” said End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller. “We can trace it all back to the rot and corruption in Congress, where too many elected officials are only looking out for their own interests and catering to deep-pocketed donors. We had a great conversation today about how to build a government that works for working people, starting with electing accountable people like Sam Forstag. I’m grateful to Sam and to Senator Tester for their insights and leadership in the fight against corruption.”
“While families across Montana are drowning in rising costs, millions are being poured into our elections to make sure nothing’s done to fix it,” said Sam Forstag. “When corporations and billionaires are allowed to spend limitlessly on our elections, working people pay the price. We stop that by standing together in the face of fear-mongering from politicians like Flint, and by committing to policies that get money out of politics. That means banning super PACs, banning corporate election spending, and banning congressional stock trading, to start. Like we heard from Montanans today, these reforms aren’t just popular, they’re essential.”
ECU endorsed Forstag in June, citing his commitment to prioritizing anti-corruption reform. Forstag is part of the organization’s Unrig Washington program for candidates who reject corporate PAC money, support a ban on congressional stock trading, and promise to crack down on dark money in politics.
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For 10 Years, End Citizens United (ECU) has been dedicated to combating the two biggest challenges facing our democracy: the corrosive impact of Big Money in politics and attempts to block access to the ballot box. Since its founding in 2015, ECU has had over 1.4 million donors with an average donation of just $14. The group has more than four million members nationwide and is one of the nation’s leading anti-corruption organizations.