Pascrell Opening Statement at Oversight Subcommittee Hearing

(As prepared for delivery)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’d like to start today with another history lesson for my colleagues. 

It’s been over 13 years since the Supreme Court unleashed a tidal wave of dark money into politics through the disastrous Citizens United decision. 

Since then, we’ve seen political 501(c)(4) organizations pour over $1 Billion into federal elections – every dollar without any requirement to disclose their funding source. 

My colleagues across the aisle are making today about targeting tax-exempt organizations that don’t align with their politics. 

But over a decade ago, the other side hailed the Supreme Court’s hideous decision to toss out a century of campaign finance law and open the floodgates to unlimited dark money in our elections! 

In the aftermath of Citizens United, I introduced legislation to keep foreign influence out of American elections. 

My bill would have prevented corporations controlled by foreign actors from making any contributions to our elections. 

It got almost no GOP support! After it was included in a Democratic package to promote transparency, it died thanks to a Republican filibuster. 

And when the IRS tried to crack down on dark money a decade ago, the other side created a fake scandal to falsely claim conservative groups were being targeted!

Despite a comprehensive TIGTA report in 2017 finding no unfair targeting, an appropriations rider pushed by Republicans has blocked the IRS from issuing regulations governing political spending by 501(c)(4) organizations since 2015. 

I hope my colleagues across the aisle will support finally allowing the IRS to do its job. 

There is common ground to be found on tax exempt oversight. But I am not optimistic based on the testimony we are expecting here, and the openly partisan manner by which this hearing was conceived.  

Thank you, and I yield back.