Recap: ECU and Congressman Mark Pocan Join Mitchell Berman for Anti-Corruption Town Hall

Cudahy, WI — End Citizens United and Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02) today joined ECU-endorsed candidate Mitchell Berman for a town hall about fighting government corruption. They discussed policy solutions to crack down on political self-dealing and how Berman’s commitment to reform stands in contrast to Rep. Bryan Steil’s deeply corrupt record.

The event featured a conversation moderated by ECU President Tiffany Muller and live audience questions. Rep. Pocan, Muller, and Berman discussed how to fight for a government that responds to working families, instead of greedy special interests. They highlighted that Rep. Steil has accepted over $5 million in corporate PAC donations over his political career, compared with the $0 Berman has taken.

“Bryan Steil has never failed to deliver for his donors, even when it means hurting his own constituents,” said End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller. “He consistently votes for legislation that raises costs, enables corporate price gouging, and guts health care for tens of thousands of people right here in the first district. Wisconsin families are demanding change, and it starts with ensuring we have leaders like Mitchell Berman and Congressman Pocan in office. I’m grateful to them both for leading the fight against corruption in Washington.”

“Mitchell Berman is going to fight for working people and take on the corruption that’s raising the cost of everything,” said Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02). “Wisconsin families know that Brian Steil is only serving the special interests that fill up his campaign coffers, instead of delivering for his district. It’s time to kick him out and send Mitchell to Congress. Thank you to End Citizens United for hosting this great conversation, and I look forward to working with Mitchell to ban congressional stock trading, root out big money in politics, and finally get government working for everyday people again.”

“As an ER nurse, I make decisions based on what saves lives and protects people, not what makes corporate executives richer,” said Mitchell Berman. “Bryan Steil has sold out Wisconsin families over and over to line his corporate donors’ pockets. I’m proud to stand with End Citizens United and Congressman Pocan to unrig the broken system. Unlike Bryan Steil, my vote in Congress will never be for sale, and my only loyalty will be to the people of Wisconsin.”

Both Berman and Rep. Pocan have committed to rejecting corporate PAC money, supporting a ban on congressional stock trading, and helping get dark money out of elections as part of the Unrig Washington program led by ECU. Berman’s career-long service as a nurse and his experience as a union member stand in stark contrast to his opponent's corrupt record.

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For 11 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.