Jeff Clements, CEO of American Promise, issued the following statement in reaction to Senator Ed Cooper’s introduction of SJ0008:

“Only Wyomingites should have a say in their elections, but this year the state saw record breaking spending from out-of-state dark money special interest groups trying to manipulate outcomes and advance their own narrow agendas. Decades of bad Supreme Court decisions have eroded the long-held power of states to control their elections and set common sense laws that prevent out-of-state interference. Today, Wyoming took a crucial step to fix this issue through support of a constitutional amendment. 

“Thank you to Senator Ed Cooper for his leadership in introducing SJ0008. This resolution carries deep support from Wyoming voters, and it addresses a fundamental right that states control their own elections and that power be concentrated in the hands of voters. 

“Among the issues that Senator Cooper’s resolution addresses is the insidious threat of foreign interference from dark money election activities. These groups often serve as a front for foreign interference in our elections by concealing their true backers and posing as grassroots organizations. In reality, they push foreign agendas. Millions of dollars were spent in elections around the country recently through these types of groups.

“With this resolution, Wyoming legislators have the opportunity to stand with the majority of voters who are concerned about the influence of political spending, and against the special interests, corporations, and foreign actors who are trying to advance their own agendas.”