Campaign finance reform is an issue in which you are deeply invested.

That’s what Emma Boorboor, Democracy Associate at the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, says, anyway.

“Students realize we can’t make progress on environmental issues, or other issues that students care about, without making any change with campaign finance reform,” Booboor says. “We’ve got to get big money out of politics to make any change anywhere else.”

And the latest threat to campaign finance reform is McCutcheon v. FEC, a lawsuit filed by large-scale donor Shaun McCutcheon and the Republican National Committee. McCutcheon “would lift”:http://www.demos.org/publication/stop-next-citizens-united the contribution limit from $123,000 to $3.5 million.

Allowing corporations and special interest groups to donate unlimited funds to candidates would unfairly shift the balance of power away from the people. Indeed, according to PIRG, 80% of election spending was spent by candidates and party PACs. And when corporations have more power over candidates than the people they represent, issues like climate change, immigration reform and LGBT rights get put on the back burner.

PIRG wants to make sure the voices behind these issues are being heard. October 8, the day the Supreme Court “will hear”:http://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/mccutcheon-v-federal-election-commission/ oral arguments in McCutcheon v. FEC, PIRG will host the Money v. People Rally, followed by a lobby day for democracy on the hill. Representatives from various advocacy groups—ranging from environmental to civil rights interests—will be present, but the student voice is just as important.

“Students are in a unique position to get involved,” Booboor says. “They’re inheriting this system, and they’re particularly situated to do something about it. The Supreme Court is slated to make a big, dangerous decision here, but this is also an amazing opportunity to start to gain momentum in this area.”

To learn more about McCutcheon v. FEC or campaign finance reform, check out PIRG’s resources “here”:http://www.uspirg.org/issues/usp/reclaiming-our-democracy.

_To learn more about PIRG’s rally on October 8, join the “Facebook event”:https://www.facebook.com/events/407857282647092/. Want to get involved with the movement or with planning the rally? Contact Emma Boorboor at [email protected]._