We often discuss corporate influence on politics. For more than 20 years, PEC has alerted you to the way Dominion Energy games the system, writes our utility laws, and through massive contributions, influences our legislators. Virginia has some of the worst campaign finance laws in the country, which has allowed Dominion and other corporate interests to drown out the voices of everyday Virginians.
At 1 p.m. on Monday, a specially-convened committee on campaign finance reform will hold its first-ever meeting. This is your opportunity to tell legislators to enact common sense campaign finance reforms to ensure transparency and protect the integrity of our political system.
You can choose to a) attend the meeting remotely and speak, or b) provide written comment.
SUGGESTED COMMENT / SAMPLE SCRIPT:
Dear Senators and Delegates of the Joint Subcommittee to Study Comprehensive Campaign Finance Reform,
Thank you for the work you are doing on behalf of all Virginians by addressing the serious issue of campaign finance. I urge the subcommittee to recommend legislation banning political campaign contributions from all publicly-regulated monopolies overseen by the General Assembly. It is a conflict of interest for legislators to receive financial contributions from monopolies whose prices these same legislators are tasked with regulating. Dominion Energy overcharges its Virginian customers by hundreds of millions of dollars annually, and these contributions stand in direct opposition to the public’s interest.
Campaign contributions from publicly-regulated utility monopolies is especially troubling given Virginia’s lack of a ban on the personal use of campaign funds. I hope you will stand with Virginians in support of both of these highly overdue campaign finance reforms.
Thank you in advance for your commitment to the public, supporting these common sense reforms.
Best,
[sender name]
Ramp up the impact of your comment by adding a personal story and make sure to submit it before the subcommittee meets at 1 p.m. on Monday, August 23rd.
Thank you for taking action with us,
Dan Holmes
Director of State Policy
dholmes@pecva.org
Additional resources:
- “Senate spikes bill to rein in personal use of campaign cash.” Sarah Rankin. The Associated Press. Feburary 23, 2021.
- “Va. Senate Democrats scuttle bill to bar personal use of campaign funds.” Patrick Wilson. Richmond Times-Dispatch. February 23, 2021.
- “Lawmakers defeat ban on campaign funds for personal use.” Alan Suderman. The Associated Press. Feburary 2, 2017.
- “Dominion Energy rewards Virginia political allies with bipartisan, off-year campaign contributions in 2020.” Kelly Roache. Energy and Policy Institute. November 17, 2020.
- “Dominion Energy nearly quadruples Virginia political contributions from 2018 to 2020.” Kelly Roache. Energy and Policy Institute. January 28, 2021.
- “‘Anything goes’ in Virginia when it comes to campaign donations.” Roger Chelsey. Virginia Mercury. January 28, 2021.
- “Bill that would ban Dominion donations dies in Democratic-led Senate committee.” Graham Moomaw. Virginia Mercury. January 21, 2021.