Reformers Applaud Temporary Reinstatement of Montana’s Campaign Money Limits Posted on October 10, 2012 (October 16, 2020) Defending Key Reforms Note Need for I-166 to Bolster Permanent Protection HELENA – Campaign finance reform advocates welcomed action by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to stay a lower court ruling that struck down limits on campaign contributions to Montana state candidates just days before Montana’s ballot were mailed. The action means that the limits will be reinstated through the election. Read More
The New York Times calls for a constitutional amendment to overrule Citizens United. Posted on October 9, 2012 (October 16, 2020) Democracy Amendments An editorial in the Sunday New York Times called for a constitutional amendment. Here are a few quick excerpts: The Cacophony of MoneyEditorial, The New York Times, Sunday October 7th, 2012 This is only the first presidential election in the Citizens United era of unlimited spending… Read More
A Foreign Corporation Makes $1 Million Contribution to Influence U.S. Presidential Election (via Center for Public Integrity) Posted on October 5, 2012 (October 16, 2020) Challenging Super PACs When Citizens United opened the door to corporate funding of elections, many people expressed concern that there would be no way to prevent foreign-owned corporations from exercising influence over U.S. elections. (Campaign contributions from people who are non-U.S. citizens are illegal.) Read More
Ahead of Obama-Romney Debate, Over 40,000 Americans Urge Moderator To Raise Issue of Money in Politics Posted on September 28, 2012 (October 16, 2020) Democracy Amendments Our joint news release today, with Avaaz and unPAC: 41,161 signatures hand-delivered to Jim Lehrer on Thursday Moderator urged to ask candidates, “if elected would you call on Congress to study and propose a Constitutional Amendment designed to reduce the influence of money in our political system” Read More
Movement To Overturn Citizens United Targets 2012 Ballot Measures Posted on September 28, 2012 (October 16, 2020) Democracy Amendments Derek Cressman Alternet September 20, 2012 From America’s earliest days, states have sent instructions to Congress on constitutional reforms. As we head into the home stretch of the 2012 campaigns, from coast to coast voter frustration with negative campaign ads — and the big money behind them — is more than palpable. Read More
Romney agrees: “We’ve got to get the money out of the teachers unions going into campaigns.” Posted on September 26, 2012 (October 16, 2020) Democracy Amendments It’s being widely reported that Mitt Romney yesterday called for limits on campaign spending by teachers’ unions. A blog post at The Nation puts this succinctly in perspective. The constitutional amendments we support would even-handedly enable the elimination of politcal contributions from for-profit corporations, incorporated non-profits, and incorporated labor unions alike. (For more on this, see our analysis of various bills here.) Read More
Report: Citizens United ruling accounts for 78 percent of 2012 election spending Posted on September 26, 2012 (October 16, 2020) Challenging Super PACs By Adam Gabbatt, The GuardianMonday, September 24, 2012 (Excerpt:) Almost $465m of outside money has been spent on the US presidential election campaign so far, including $365m that can be attributed to the supreme court’s landmark Citizens United ruling, according to a report released on Monday. Super Pacs, which came into effect following the 2010 Citizens United verdict, accounted for $272m of the expenditure in the study, conducted by the Sunlight Foundation, a non-profit organisation devoted to increasing transparency in government. Read More
Trevor Potter, former FEC Commissioner (R), on Citizens United, why corporations shouldn’t participate in our elections Posted on September 25, 2012 (October 16, 2020) Challenging Super PACs Bill Moyers’ latest video is an interview with Trevor Potter, a Republican former Commissioner of the Federal Election Commission, best known as Stephen Colbert’s attorney and also Senator John McCain’s former General Counsel. Mr. Potter makes several important points in the 45-minute interview. Here are some of the choicest excerpts, below (not in chronological order): Read More
Local protest targets business, elections Posted on September 24, 2012 (October 15, 2020) Democracy Amendments News & Record – Greensboro, North Carolina Amanda Lehmert September 24, 2012 Local advocates have joined a national protest against corporate influence over elections. Read More
Latest poll: 83% want limits on campaign spending by corporations, unions, and other organizations. Posted on September 17, 2012 (October 15, 2020) Democracy Amendments Poll: Americans largely in favor of campaign spending limitationsby Morgan LittleThe Los Angeles Times, September 16, 2012 Excerpt: Read More