“We the People? Corporate Spending in American Elections after Citizens United”

While Congress may be restrained, to put it politely, in its efforts to clean up corruption for its own sake, xenophobia may come to the rescue. The LA Times reports that the Democratic party's legislation in both houses is "now considering a broad definition of foreign corporations -- companies that are more than 20% owned by non-American entities. That could end up banning thousands of corporations from contributing to political activities."

Citizens United Supreme Court Case
Senate Judiciary Committee
Full Committee Hearing

Senate Judiciary Committee (Chairman Leahy, D-Vt.) will hold a hearing titled "We the People? Corporate Spending in American Elections after Citizens United."
Contact: Bruce Cohen - Democratic Chief Counsel at 202-224-7703

Wednesday, March 10, 10 a.m.
Place 226 Dirksen Bldg.
Witnesses Scheduled:
Jeffrey Rosen, professor, The George Washington University Law School
Doug Kendall, founder and president, Constitutional Accountability Center

MCG10062 S.L.C.
111TH CONGRESS
2DSESSION
S. J. RES. 28
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to contributions and expenditures intended to affect elections.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
Mr. DODD introduced the following joint resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to contributions and expenditures intended to affect elections.

Here's Al Franken's S 2959

And Robert Menendez' S 2954

Here's the Wall Street Journal and DailyKos.

This is the package of bills we've been expecting from Rep Van Hollen and Senator Schumer.

UPDATE: A blog by Schumer.

Senator Charles Schumer of New York is expected to introduce legislation on behalf of the Democratic leadership, coordinating with Congressman Chris Van Hollen of Maryland.

Sen Michael F. Bennet of Colorado may introduce a Constitutional amendment.

Sherrod Brown Introduces Citizens United Fixes
By David Dayen, FireDog Lake

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has introduced a bill that would mitigate the effects of the Citizens United ruling on corporate political spending. Saying that corporations already have enormous influence in Washington, as evidenced by their $3.3 billion dollars in annual lobbying expenses, Brown’s bill would at least try to stop this influence from moving into the electoral sphere.

By Senator Dodd's Office

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) announced today that he will be introducing a constitutional amendment in the coming days to reverse the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. The decision overturned 100 years of precedents to come to the unjustified conclusion that corporations deserve the same free speech protections as individual Americans.