Category: Democracy Amendments

It didn’t take the Iowa Senate long to respond to the devastating blow to democracy struck in Citizens United v. FEC, voting 49-1 to impose tough new regulations on corporations trying to interfere in elections. In doing so, the Iowa Senate became the first state legislative body to pass significant campaign finance reform responding to Citizens United.

The bill promises to regulate corporate interference in elections by:

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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.
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From People for the American Way:

New Poll Shows Broad Support for “Fixing” Citizens United

Americans Want Limits on Corporate Cash in Elections, Would Support a Constitutional Amendment

A national poll of 1,200 Americans commissioned by People For the American Way shows that the Roberts Court is far out of step with the American public over corporate money in elections. It also shows broad support for a wide range of proposals to “fix” the Citizens United ruling, including legislation being introduced in Congress and a proposed constitutional amendment.

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By Dan Eggen, Washington Post

Americans of both parties overwhelmingly oppose a Supreme Court ruling that allows corporations and unions to spend as much as they want on political campaigns, and most favor new limits on such spending, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

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From an Op-Ed by Senator John Kerry in Politico:

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The Case Against Corporate Speech
By Ralph Nader And Robert Weismann, the Wall Street Journal

Last month, by a vote of 5 to 4, the U.S. Supreme Court gave carte blanche to the world’s largest corporations to spend unlimited sums of money to support or oppose candidates for elected office. Big Business domination of Washington and state capitals will now intensify.

The case of Citizens United portends dire consequences for the nation’s constitutional premise of “we the people,” not we the corporations. Our constitution, at its origins and through all of its amendments, makes no mention of corporate entities, only human beings and their government.

For 120 years, it was not Congress but the Supreme Court that expanded the definition of “persons” to include for-profit corporations for the purposes of applying constitutional protections. For 30 years, the court has granted First Amendment speech protections to corporations as “artificial persons.”

READ THE REST.
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On Monday, both the Alaska House and Senate will introduce legislation affirming that corporations are not people FOR THE PURPOSES OF ELECTIONS. One of the sponsors is Hollis French, a long time legislator and gubernatorial candidate in Alaska’s next election. There are several sponsors on each bill at this point.
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Here are the details.
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Free Speech for People, Not Corporations!
RALLY to Take Back Democracy!
Lawyer’s Mall, Annapolis (near Church Circle)
Monday, Feb. 22nd, 2010   6 – 7 PM

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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.

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