Kelly, Ossoff Reintroduce Ban Corporate PACs Act

Today, ahead of the anniversary of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision that allowed corporate money to pour into our political system, Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) reintroduced the Ban Corporate PACs Act to reduce corporate influence in Washington by prohibiting for-profit corporations from influencing political campaigns and federal elections. They first introduced this bill in 2022.  

Corporate PACs are often established by corporations to influence policy, with corporations able to fund the creation and operation of the PAC, solicit donations from their employees and wealthy stockholders, and then make contributions to political candidates at a higher legal limit than those placed on contributions from individuals.    

“On issues from tackling climate change to reducing costs for working families, we’ve seen that big corporations have too much sway on what happens in Washington. Senator Ossoff and I understand that representatives need to be accountable to their constituents, not big corporations. Our bill will end the influence corporate PACs have on our political system and make Washington work better for Arizonans,” said Kelly. 

“I don’t take contributions from corporate PACs. Corporate money corrupts the legislative process, and I’m leading this effort alongside Senator Kelly to ban corporate PACs altogether — as I said I would when I ran for the Senate,” said Ossoff.  

“For too long, big corporations have had unfettered access and influence in the halls of Congress because they spend millions of dollars every election cycle to influence candidates,” said End Citizens United // Let America Vote Action Fund President Tiffany Muller. “The Ban Corporate PACs Act is a critical step in ensuring our government works for the people—not just greedy corporate special interests. We applaud Senator Kelly and Senator Ossoff for reintroducing this important piece of legislation and their continued work to make Washington reflective of the people.” 

Kelly is the only member of Congress to take the following three transparency and accountability steps: place his assets in Qualified Blind Trusts, release his official Senate schedule, and not take Corporate PAC contributions to his campaign. According to Insider, Kelly and Ossoff are two of only 10 sitting members of Congress to put their own stock portfolios in blind trusts.   

The Ban Corporate PACs Act would:    

• Eliminate the ability of for-profit corporations to establish and manage a PAC.    
• Eliminate the ability of for-profit corporations or PACs to solicit contributions from corporate stockholders.     
• Require that existing corporate PACs that will no longer be allowed under this Act be terminated and funds be fully disbursed within 1 year after enactment of the Act.    

The reintroduction of the Ban Corporate PACs Act follows Kelly and Ossoff’s recent reintroduction of their bill prohibiting members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent family members from buying and selling stocks while the member holds office.    

Click here to read the Ban Corporate PACs Act.