Both Paul and Conway Should Sign Voters First Pledge

Washington, D.C.—Just one day after Kentucky reporters revealed that coal companies were planning to spend millions of dollars to elect Rand Paul to the Senate, news broke that Paul has indicated that he’d be their ally in the Senate by calling the dangers of mountaintop removal as, “enhancing” the value of the land.

Below is a statement from David Donnelly, campaign manager of the campaign for Fair Elections.

“Coal companies are offering to spend millions of dollars to defeat Mr. Paul’s opponent this fall. With stories today showing he’ll support their practices, he’s sent them an unmistakable response: I’m your guy.

“No candidate should roll out the welcome mat for corporate special interests to spend millions to buy elections. The back-and-forth between coal companies and Mr. Paul in the press will only serve to deepen public cynicism that politics is in the hands of the corporate special interests, not regular voters.”

Donnelly called on both Paul and his opponent, Jack Conway, to sign the Voters First Pledge.

Available at www.votersfirstpledge.org, it says, “If elected, I pledge to support legislation to create a small-donor, Fair Elections system for congressional candidates who agree not to take large campaign contributions.” The pledge is modeled on the Fair Elections Now Act (H.R. 1826, S. 752), legislation that would allow candidates for Congress to run competitive campaigns for office on a blend of Fair Elections funds and a match on small donations. Nearly 350 candidates and incumbents from across the country have already shown their support.

Story on coal company spending: http://bit.ly/c8LGtm.
Story on Paul’s mountaintop removal statements: http://bit.ly/aLdqPw.

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The Campaign for Fair Elections is a national effort to push for congressional passage of Fair Elections and to educate the public about the impact of special interest money in politics. Learn more at www.fairelectionsnow.org.